CONCRETEWEB.COM.BE REVIEW
Body: CD REVIEW Pownd
Band : Pownd
Album title : Circle Of Power
Label : Nightmare
Distributor : Bertus
Release date : 29/04/2007
Release : CD
We got no info what-so-ever with the promo of this CD, and what info you're gonna get was only obtained after dire search on the Internet. If I didn't get my info crosswired, the band originates from Richmond, Kentucky, but they relocated to Detroit, where they have gathered 1000s of fans thanks to their music. The band is constituted of singer Michael Duncan and his guitarist brother Ronnie , 2 nd guitarist Rick Sargent bassist Steve Watts , and drummer Clint McMaine . With influences like Judas Priest , Iron Maiden , Dio , Black Sabbath , and many more, the guys "...combine the best of '70s/ '80s and newer flavours of Heavy Rock and Metal into their own molten alloy of aggressive, mega riff, groove oriented Metal. Great vocals, great guitar riffs and powerful song..." (that's how they describe themselves on their myspace.com spot and their own website pownd.com). The band already broadened their fanbase by giging all over the tristate area, and by releasing a self-titled debut.
With an original release date of November 11 th , 2006, the boys eventually also signed their 2 nd album to Nightmare , the label for quality Power and Progressive Metal founded in 1990 by current Avian , Shining Star (ex- Pyramaze & Balance Of Power ) vocalist Lance King ...from where the album has been available since February 6 th . And being on that label is really a statement in its own right. No wonder, because what the Detroit quintet bring here is truely top-notch, modern US Metal with pounding double bass foundation, catchy and melodic guitar licks, and truely great lead singer with a clear, not too high-pitched and powerful voice (getting great backings now and again in the appropriate place to boot). There's an opportunity to check out samples of each and every of the 11 tracks on the band's album, by logging into the label website nightmare-records.com, scrolling down the page 'till the cover of the album, click to enter Amazon, scroll down to find samples of each song. For full-length song sampling (play of words here) log into the band's website, click on "media", where you'll not only find possibility to listen to 4 tracks off the new album (also available on the opening "home" page), but are also enabled to check out 3 songs off the first!
Is the band's music worth your heard-earned buck to get yourself a retail copy? Find out for yourself, I've shown you the way to do so effectively...but in all honesty, if you're into quality Power Metal or top-notch US Metal, this release is one you simply can't afford not to buy or steal!
Additional info: Pownd is to be included in the soundtrack of the Jacob Ennis thriller/ horror movie Stash , which should be another nice way to spread the word on this very good band.
90/100
Tony.
I wasn't able to check them out yet, but they will be the only two cds in my car for the next few days as I focus on them.
