Overlord's Perpetual - Overlord's Perpetual
Sonic Age Records - SARECD 004 - 2005
By Philip Whitehouse
Greek native Overlord is the kind of musician aspiring guitarists like me hear, and then go and break our own fingers with a toffee mallet due to the feelings of inadequacy that suddenly well up. The dude is the same age as me, and while I'm still fumbling around recording crappy demo riffs on my PC, this guy has a debut album out which showcases his penchant for
Malmsteen-esque neo-classical guitar rampages. It makes me want to weep, it really does.
While that neo-classical background and the blistering displays of fretboard gymnastics on display tie
Overlord's Perpetual firmly to the world of guitar-centric widdle-metal, there is a backbone and structure of pure heavy metal underpinning all of the tracks, making this release somewhat more interesting to those like me who have little time for an entire album where a talented axe-weilder waves his nuts in your face. This is probably mainly thanks to the band members Overlord has recruited - particularly keyboardist Bob Katsionis, who is something of a Greek metal veteran and who manages to match Overlord's guitar histrionics with some impressive ivory-tinkle whilst also providing some impressively atmospheric background synths.
Vocalist Vasilis Axiotis handles his role with suitable aplomb, but while his range and control are impressive, his style of somewhat generic European power-metal vocalisation doesn't really raise too much interest. The drumming is somewhat disappointing too, seeming to serve as little more than a backbeat than a part of the compositions in themselves. 'I Can't Wait' sees the group operate more as a band, however, and the heavy riffing and soaring choruses serve to make this one of the best tracks on the record. However, for the most part, this is all about Overlord's guitar playing, and however amazing that might be, it's not enough on it's own to sustain this critic's interest.
5/10
Overlord's Perpetual Official Website
Sonic Age Records Website
