┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │■ ■│ │ .-/ .-. │ │ _.-~ / ___ | ~-._ │ │ \:/ -~| / __/| .\:/ │ │ / || (:/:| \ │ │ / /\/| |:\___\| |\ \ │ │ / /:::|.::/:::/:.|:\ \ │ │ / /:::/ \\/:::/::/:::\ \ │ │ / .::\ \-~~~~-/\/:.. \ │ │ /..:::::\ /:::::..\ │ │ /::::::::- -::::::::\ │ │ \:::::-~ ~-:::::/ │ │ \:-~ ~-:/ │ │ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ P R E S E N T S │ │ │ │ │ │ + Blitzkrieg - Judge Not!-(IUCP-16287) + │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Information ║ │ │╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Release Date.May-07-2018 Encoder......L3.98.4 -V0 --lowpas ║ │ │║ Genre........Heavy Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │ │║ Year.........2018 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........14 ║ │ │║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.blitzkriegmusic.com ║ │ │║ ║ │ │╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Notes ║ │ │╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Artist : Blitzkrieg Rating : You Decide! ║ │ │║ Album : Judge Not!-(IUCP-16287) Label : Spiritual Beas ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Description : ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ This will in all probability be a great year for ║ │ │║ Brian Ross, you see. Not only his much-beloved ║ │ │║ Blitzkrieg is back for more with another record ║ │ │║ (the one weÆre about to review, of course), heÆs ║ │ │║ also going from strenght to strenght with Satan, ║ │ │║ arguably the most successful NWOBHM reunion ║ │ │║ alongside with Hell and due to release a new ║ │ │║ album later in 2018. After decades struggling ║ │ │║ with not-very-wide-ranging distribution (and, ║ │ │║ sometimes, without any dotted lines to sign at ║ │ │║ all), now both bands are connected to strong ║ │ │║ labels (Satan with Metal Blade, Blitzkrieg with ║ │ │║ Mighty Music) very willing to give them all the ║ │ │║ backing they need to deliver the goods. ItÆs ║ │ │║ heartwarming to see one of the most resilient ║ │ │║ NWOBHM stalwarts achieving high levels of ║ │ │║ recognition so late in his career û and, with ║ │ │║ such good vibes surrounding Ross and his cohorts ║ │ │║ nowadays, itÆs pleasantly reassuring to listen ║ │ │║ to ôJudge Not!ö, the 9th all-original full ║ │ │║ length in BlitzkriegÆs ongoing history. Far from ║ │ │║ reinventing the heavy metal wheel (and, letÆs ║ │ │║ face it, who would ever want them to do such a ║ │ │║ thing?), the 5-piece just focused their ║ │ │║ collective strenghts into writing and recording ║ │ │║ good songs, and the resulting album is perhaps ║ │ │║ their best since 2002Æs ôAbsolute Powerö, easily ║ │ │║ ranking among the greatest achievements in their ║ │ │║ 35-year-plus cannon. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ After the obligatory, atmospheric intro, the ║ │ │║ weighty ôWho is Blind?ö bursts forth with heavy ║ │ │║ riffing and some pretty impressive drumming. ║ │ │║ Next comes the excellent ôForever is a Long ║ │ │║ Timeö, and oh well, anyone who truly loves old- ║ │ │║ school metal will be hooked by this point. ║ │ │║ Granted, these are compositions like many bands ║ │ │║ (incluiding Blitzkrieg themselves) wrote in ║ │ │║ droves through the years, but everything is done ║ │ │║ with such finesse and conviction that youÆll ║ │ │║ probably be screaming along with the chorus of ║ │ │║ the latter even before itÆs over. ôForever is a ║ │ │║ Long Timeö isnÆt a light-hearted song at all ║ │ │║ (singing about vampires that will never be able ║ │ │║ to die, you would hardly have a chance), but ║ │ │║ itÆs immensely entertaining û and what else ║ │ │║ would you want from these NWOBHM flamebearers ║ │ │║ than severe amounts of uncompromising, ║ │ │║ headbang-inducing fun? ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Assembling a stable line-up have always been a ║ │ │║ challenge for Mr. Ross, but itÆs fair to say he ║ │ │║ always kept a good level of musicianship around ║ │ │║ him, and ôJudge Not!ö is no different. Long- ║ │ │║ standing guitar soldier Ken Johnson is ║ │ │║ accompanied by Alan Ross once again, and the duo ║ │ │║ are surely hitting their stride, with a strong ║ │ │║ display of consistent riffing and some truly ║ │ │║ engaging solos. Matt Graham is a young, talented ║ │ │║ drummer with commendable energy and tons of ║ │ │║ potential, and new 4-string player Huw Holding ║ │ │║ sure knows his trade, as some very interesting ║ │ │║ basslines (listen carefully to ôFalling into ║ │ │║ Darknessö for evidence) are well enough to ║ │ │║ demonstrate. And oh well, Brian Ross is one of ║ │ │║ the defining voices of NWOBHM and British Metal ║ │ │║ in general, no less. HeÆs no longer a kid, you ║ │ │║ know, but itÆs remarkable how strong his singing ║ │ │║ still is, perhaps getting even better with each ║ │ │║ year that passes. Just listen to him on the ║ │ │║ near-title-track ôJudge Not Lest You Yourself Be ║ │ │║ Judgedö, for instance: though surely not the ║ │ │║ most complicated vocal lines ever written in ║ │ │║ metal, Ross gets the job done with such ║ │ │║ enthusiasm, skill and charisma that the song is ║ │ │║ instantly rendered memorable as a result. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Blitzkrieg sounds rejuvenated from start to ║ │ │║ finish, and most songs here featured are pretty ║ │ │║ bloody good. ôAll Hell is Breaking Looseö grows ║ │ │║ on you with each listen, with commanding bass ║ │ │║ and a slightly more restrained, but still ║ │ │║ memorable vocal delivery. This particular piece ║ │ │║ is in the same mood as Theatre of the DamnedÆs ║ │ │║ ôDevilÆs Spawnö and Unholy TrinityÆs ôTake a ║ │ │║ Look Aroundö, adding emotional depth and a ║ │ │║ much-welcomed variation to the proceedings. ║ │ │║ After a number of mostly fast songs (ôAngels or ║ │ │║ Demonsö, for instance, is one of the best, with ║ │ │║ all those high-pitched shrieks Brian Ross is so ║ │ │║ well known for), the album does a healthy shift ║ │ │║ towards more hard-rocking waters, with both ║ │ │║ ôLoud and Proudö and the excellent ôWithout Youö ║ │ │║ being mid-paced numbers that allow the listener ║ │ │║ a time to breathe before ôWide Legged and ║ │ │║ Headlessö lays the pedal to the floor once ║ │ │║ again. This particular number touches some ║ │ │║ pretty nasty topics, and some of its lyrics may ║ │ │║ be not taken lightly in times when sexism in ║ │ │║ metal is being called into question (is a song ║ │ │║ about necrophilia, you see), but I understand ║ │ │║ Brian Ross had Alice Cooper and his terror songs ║ │ │║ in mind rather than anything more questionable ║ │ │║ when writing this one. Incidentally, ôWithout ║ │ │║ Youö presents Alan Ross taking over vocal ║ │ │║ duties, and the apple doesnÆt fall too far from ║ │ │║ the tree really, as he sounds like a mix of his ║ │ │║ father Brian with Klaus Meine û and it works ║ │ │║ pretty fine in a less forceful tune, actually ║ │ │║ being one of my personal favorites on the entire ║ │ │║ album. Oh yeah, itÆs almost as cheesy as it ║ │ │║ gets, but itÆs a damn lot of fun, and I like it! ║ │ │║ Even ôReign of Fireö, a song that I didnÆ enjoy ║ │ │║ that much when it first came out as part of a ║ │ │║ promotional EP, sounds much better when included ║ │ │║ on the albumÆs running order, sharing its mood ║ │ │║ and approach with the tunes preceeding it. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ItÆs not a flawless album, thatÆs for sure. The ║ │ │║ aforementioned ôFalling into Darknessö is ║ │ │║ uncanningly similar to ôSaharaö from previous ║ │ │║ album Back from Hell, and the aforementioned ║ │ │║ ôWide Legged and Headlessö, though far from ║ │ │║ spoiling the albumÆs flow, also pales somewhat ║ │ │║ after repeated listens. But delving too deep ║ │ │║ into such minor shortcomings would be ║ │ │║ nitpicking, as I seriously doubt anyone not ║ │ │║ engaged into writing a review or something will ║ │ │║ hardly give a damn about it. ôJudge Not!ö is not ║ │ │║ for all tastes perhaps, but those into British- ║ │ │║ standard-approved metal will most probably like ║ │ │║ it at first listen and find great replay value ║ │ │║ on this one. The production is top notch, and ║ │ │║ the artwork looks cool as well, a careful ║ │ │║ approach that really shows how seriously Mighty ║ │ │║ Music is taking its new signing. In a year full ║ │ │║ of promising releases on old-school heavy music, ║ │ │║ BlitzkriegÆs new stuff is up there with the best ║ │ │║ û and weÆre all very thankful, no doubt. Ask no ║ │ │║ questions and go buy this one: they deserve it, ║ │ │║ you can take my word for it. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ - Originally written for The Metal Observer: ║ │ │║ http://www.metal- ║ │ │║ observer.com/3.o/review/blitzkrieg-judge-not/ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Tracklist ║ │ │╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │ │ │ │ 01 - Heretic [01:05] │ │ 02 - Who Is Blind? [05:14] │ │ 03 - Forever Is A Long Time [04:49] │ │ 04 - Reign Of Fire [04:44] │ │ 05 - All Hell Is Breaking Loose [04:18] │ │ 06 - Without You [05:23] │ │ 07 - Loud And Proud [05:43] │ │ 08 - Angels Or Demons [04:43] │ │ 09 - Wide Legged And Headless [04:35] │ │ 10 - Judge Not Lest You Yopurself Be Judged [05:48] │ │ 11 - Falling Into Darkness [07:31] │ │ 12 - Schools Out [03:54] │ │ 13 - After Dark (Bonus Track) [05:18] │ │ 14 - Together We Are Strong (Bonus Track) [05:11] │ │ │ │ Total Length : [68:16 minn │ │ │ │ │ │ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ╔═════════════════════╗ │ │ ║ Greetings To: ║ │ │ ╚═════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ Too all people who contributes to make this │ │ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │■ ■│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘