┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │■ ■│ │ .-/ .-. │ │ _.-~ / ___ | ~-._ │ │ \:/ -~| / __/| .\:/ │ │ / || (:/:| \ │ │ / /\/| |:\___\| |\ \ │ │ / /:::|.::/:::/:.|:\ \ │ │ / /:::/ \\/:::/::/:::\ \ │ │ / .::\ \-~~~~-/\/:.. \ │ │ /..:::::\ /:::::..\ │ │ /::::::::- -::::::::\ │ │ \:::::-~ ~-:::::/ │ │ \:-~ ~-:/ │ │ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ P R E S E N T S │ │ │ │ │ │ + Axenstar - End Of All Hope + │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Information ║ │ │╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Rls Date..2020-05-21 Encoder......LAME 3.100 ║ │ │║ Genre.....Heavy Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │ │║ Year......2019 Khz/Bitrate..44.1 / VBR kbps ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Ripper....Anthem Songs........10 ║ │ │║ Source....CD Covers.......Yes ║ │ │║ Url..http://www.axenstar.com ║ │ │║ ║ │ │╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Notes ║ │ │╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Artist : Axenstar ║ │ │║ Album : End Of All Hope ║ │ │║ Label : Ram It Down Records ║ │ │║ Cat.No : RAM 005CD ║ │ │╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Description : ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ AXENSTAR are veterans in the world of Power Metal. ║ │ │║ Releasing their first album in 2002, this Swedish band are ║ │ │║ contemporaries of bands such as BLIND GUARDIAN, SONATA ║ │ │║ ARCTICA, and DRAGONLAND. ItÆs no wonder that their latest ║ │ │║ album, ôEnd of all Hopeö is a nostalgic, wonderfully ║ │ │║ produced masterpiece. However, thereÆs a caveat. The ║ │ │║ quality in the vocals and instrumentation can be uneven, ║ │ │║ and while the album is great as a whole, if it dips from ║ │ │║ perfection, itÆs noticeable. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Their first track is a soaring melody with high-tuned ║ │ │║ guitars and operatic vocals. The song is channeling the ║ │ │║ same spirit as their contemporaries and IÆll admit I felt ║ │ │║ nostalgic listening to these songs. Their second track ║ │ │║ isnÆt much different. The vocals are lower in tone, but it ║ │ │║ carries on the same tropes as most European Power Metal ║ │ │║ bands. While the songs are similar, theyÆre both great, ║ │ │║ with amazing production, instrumentation, etc. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ The third track changes up the riff noticeably, as well as ║ │ │║ the song structure. I enjoy the heavier bass and beat, as ║ │ │║ well as the melodic changes in the guitar solo. While the ║ │ │║ first two songs were solid, this one is a standout, as was ║ │ │║ the fourth track, ôHonor and Victory.ö I could see this ║ │ │║ song being a fun one to hear in the pit at a concert. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ The slower song, ôA Moment in Time,ö is on of their more ║ │ │║ interesting songs due to the difference in pacing. However, ║ │ │║ itÆs only OK for a slow song and in places, the singerÆs ║ │ │║ inflection seems off. However, despite the flaws, the ║ │ │║ production is perfect. The instruments are incredibly ║ │ │║ clear, the vocals are in the front without drowning out the ║ │ │║ rest of the instrumentation, and the result is a clear, ║ │ │║ rich sound. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ôMy Kingdom Come,ö however, takes a bit of a dip. The ║ │ │║ guitars are muddy and not well-articulated in the verses. ║ │ │║ although they soar in the chorus, the muddiness of the ║ │ │║ guitars brings the production quality down from the last ║ │ │║ track. The other thing I noted was that the kick drums are ║ │ │║ noticeable and well-placed, a staple in the genre. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ôThe Dark Ageö sounds a lot like the first three songs. ║ │ │║ However, it showcases the Magnus WinterwildÆs ability since ║ │ │║ thereÆs less production on his voice more. The snare has ║ │ │║ some punch and the short bass solo before the first verse ║ │ │║ is a unique addition to the song. I also enjoyed the ║ │ │║ intervals in the melody in the second verse. All in all, ║ │ │║ this is one of my favorite songs off the album. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ôMistress of Agonyö carries on the excellent vocal quality ║ │ │║ in the last song, and I loved the melody in the chorus. The ║ │ │║ echo of the backing vocals was beautiful and here, thereÆs ║ │ │║ very little effects on the vocals, especially in the second ║ │ │║ verse. In other tracks, Winterwild's voice is edited, ║ │ │║ creates unique sounds and echoes, but here, itÆs crisp, ║ │ │║ clear, and wonderful without those. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ The last two tracks are great, but compared to the rest of ║ │ │║ the album, nothing to write home about. ôTime is No Healerö ║ │ │║ has a heavy introduction, but dips back into the bandÆs ║ │ │║ usual style. The vocals are OK, but after hearing the last ║ │ │║ two songs, they werenÆt as good. The final track has a good ║ │ │║ chorus and a climbing guitar solo that builds in power ║ │ │║ throughout. TheyÆre great songs, they just donÆt pop out at ║ │ │║ me through the rest of the tracks. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Personally, I love this style. However, I have to admit ║ │ │║ that thereÆs not much thatÆs new about it. What makes it ║ │ │║ stand out is the excellent production quality and high ║ │ │║ caliber of the instrumentation. The only reason I noticed ║ │ │║ the flaws in the music was that when it was good, it was ║ │ │║ really good and that affected my opinion when it was only ║ │ │║ good. Overall, itÆs still a great album thatÆs earned its ║ │ │║ high praise. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Lineup: ║ │ │║ Magnus Winterwild û Vocals / Bass ║ │ │║ Joakim Jonsson - Guitar ║ │ │║ Jens Klovegσrd - Guitar ║ │ │║ Hampus Fasth - Drums ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Tracklist ║ │ │╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │ │ │ │ 1. Legions 3:49 │ │ 2. King Of Fools 5:41 │ │ 3. The Unholy 4:05 │ │ 4. Honor And Victory 4:49 │ │ 5. A Moment In Time 6:40 │ │ 6. My Kingdom Come 5:20 │ │ 7. The Dark Age 4:27 │ │ 8. Mistress Of Agony 4:59 │ │ 9. Time Is No Healer 4:36 │ │ 10. Of Pain And Misery 6:31 │ │ │ │ │ │ Total Length : 00:50:57 │ │ │ │ │ │ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ╔═════════════════════╗ │ │ ║ Greetings To: ║ │ │ ╚═════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ Too all people who contributes to make this │ │ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │■ ■│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘