W. ANGEL’S CONQUEST-Taste of Life

Ferrrum Release Date: 8 June 2015 Genre: Power Metal Origin: Ukraine

The cover of the album makes me think of the window frame of a house well lit, possibly where a life is 'ongoing' but going down, sinking. The cover seems like a bit of a metaphor, maybe a 'life' is going down the crapper.

Track 1. Revolution- A techno vibe is quickly established, a rotating digital melody that guides in a slow yet approaching low pitched buzz. The immediate halt beings a barrage of crunchy guitar riffs. A rapid fire set of drums begin it's assault. Tight paced, and very well constructed. The vocals match the syncopation of the song quite well. It's almost like two cool songs in one, a heavy rock feel, yet with with the digital melody, something cool and creepy as hell. A progressively winding melody, with a thrilling destination. The song has an overreaching feel to it, there are not 'dead spots' in the track. Thorough melody, and fast paced crunching action. With each gallop and flicker of melody you get pulled into this piece more. You feel on the edge of your seat when the decrescendo marches in... to the void of silence just consisting of vocals, but then the song explodes itself wide open, giving a last sweet go round of what this song has to offer. Heavy, yet cool and awkward melody.

Track 2. Mirror Of Truth- A guitar riff, attempts to establish the opening of this song, at first it is uneasy, but then it's shaky ground becomes more clear giving way to an aggressive snare that barks of a dark distorted battle that begins. A heavy crunched riff chimes the track awake. An assault of the double bass and an electric squeal deliver some metal mite here. The beautifully orchestrated dual harmonic vocals add a great accent to this song. Everything winds together quite nicely here. Not a forced feeling, but everything flows together quite well. Very much an inspirational feeling piece. Exceptional vocal melody and articulation, outstanding expression. The lead solo is massively impressive with just the right amount of effects. Love the part where it dies down, and explodes back to its 'infinite' reaching over the track presence. It paces on within its massive march of metallic rumblings. The subtle digital effects add great yet subtle depth to the piece, inspirational and fun all around.

Track 3. Sunrise- An orchestrated melody, trickles in establishing a feeling of certain inspiration and greatness. Quickly the storm gathers and follows. A sheer force of determination, is what this feels like, with the aggressive riffs and PERFECT drums. Love the back and forth between the palm mute, drawn out riffs, and the gallops. The groove moves at a tasteful pace. They seem to mix things up just right, enough to keep your interest. The vocals match perfectly here as well, but they don't overwhelm the song and try to cover the melody especially this bad ass solo that reaches across the sky in your mind. They do just what they need to, which is more than enough. Soulful, and thoroughly passionate. Intricate, technical, melodic when it needs to be, but crunchy as hell when it knows to be. Vocal clarity is just enough to where lyrics can be made out. Everything seems to be well balance through out the mix, more excellent sound quality.

Track 4. Martian Gods- A delicate yet controversial digital melody starts this. A rumbling bass or guitar feeds us the metal, and begins an absolute fucking onslaught. Gallop's of sheer aggressive force. I like how the digital melody that is subtly in the back of the track does not over take the guitar riffs, but yet goes in and out of the mix. It sort of have an Asian quality or inspiration to it, sounding almost like a pipe of some sort, anyhow it is quite beautiful. The vocals have established themselves as powerful and through impressive, they do NOT disappoint here. The song changes up again intelligently. Giving you almost a completely different piece with more of the strange yet soul grasping melodies. A dark descending cusp of melodic madness. Comes crashing around you delivering both all of your hopes, dreams, and nightmares all at once. A complete cascade of filtering yet amazing madness. Something along the lines of EPIC.

Track 5. Spirit Of Freedom- A worrisome piano part plays, and unfolds into a slow burning rumble of bass. The clatter of digital beat and digital effects, create an atmosphere meant for a action packed horror film. Just when you least expect it, the explosion of metal and melody smack you in the face. The drums establish a tight war pouncing presence. And just at the right time the chugging chimes in. I like the change within this song. From the prolonged chords to the chugging, and then onto a very balanced groove with doses of sweetly awesome melody, and then back to the palm mutes of metal. I love how the vocals are perfectly clear yet fully passionate and expressive across the track, perfectly put. The sick digital effects add an alien element of unknown to the track. The bouncing back and forth between the riff styles is quite tasteful. Great song dynamics. This song has a soul, the title speaks of it perfectly, you can FEEL it through every word, every riff, and beat. It feels like an expansive journey through what physical freedom feels like, is. The song makes you think about every drop of blood, sweat, tears, in the name of freedom dropped as well. After a while the metal groove gives way a to a quiet yet sweet overlay of the piano and a deep digital beat, followed by subtle clatters, giving great depth and accent to the song. I love how the vocals sit back a bit in the mix, basically serving as a decrescendo for the song. And then it explodes, awakens, bringing to life, the sense of freedom. Letting go, you become and FEEL liberated, the chugs, are the fight, the vocals and melody the passion exuberance and undeniable allegiance, to everything it stands for, a spirit of freedom, which a exceptionally and beautifully captured here. It gets you rocking, but also has strides of great passion and melody. A taste of fierce metal, thrown into a batch of melodic digital chaos.

Track 6. Fellowship- The opening of this song... the riffs scream....OH YEAH... well it does not say that. But, it's the feeling conveyed in the riffs. Sweet palm muting shit there guys. Tight bombastic drums, loud and steady in the mix. An instant uptick in action. Vocals that are consistently NEVER in question. Melody's that are perfectly placed like puzzle pieces upon a massive random highway to hell called...METAL. Digging the shit out of the chugs here. A pure overbearing feeling of AWESOME here. Out right inspirational piece. Thorough creativity, excellent placement and styling with the guitar solo... a mind bending trip through reality itself.I can't even begin to say enough about how much this band continues to impress me, the guitar riffs never bore you, the melody's constantly excite, either the guitar or vocals. And the drums are powerful, as if hand wrapped as a gift from the devil himself.

Track 7. Blooming Day- A quiet, piano piece with a light digital effect opens this piece, it has a soul searching sort of feel to it. But this does not make the song as a whole. Quickly an abrupt sensation of METAL... begins a slow burning onslaught distorted pain. A groove settles without wasting time. A tight well timed, yet tasteful beat and bass line take over the track. The echo of the heart filled endearing vocals consume you, as does the slow palm muting sweet fucking METALLIC guitar.... slow... but AWESOME. You can feel that something is being set up, it open's it self up just enough, it.. 'bloom's'. The song feels like a great metaphor. The music unwraps, at first it tries to figure out what it is, but slowly and surely it discovers just what the hell it is, and where it's going. The destination, that you get more and more of as the song goes along. It's righteous, a new beginning. Awe Inspiring, but with a taste of thundering, kick to the gut METAL. A slower yet sweet as fuck guitar solo, spreads out over the track with EPIC ferocity. The song arranges back into its tasteful groove. A creative and thoroughly bad ass yet wonderful piece of music here. Another impressive piece of work by this group, it's becoming a habit. They truly do have something AMAZING... in this song, and with their sound in general. And the beautiful piano that was not sure of itself in the beginning... in the end it fades away, knowing what it did not know before.

Track 8. Taste Of Life- It begins with a straight up digital tempo, feel and essence, tasteful and creative. But rapidly it gives way to a raw in your face assault of crunchy as fuck METAL. An echo of even lasting perfect sustaining vocals reach across the track. The familiar flavor, but new enticing pieces are added. Sweet fucking METAL... great head banging devil horn thrusting shit. But you don't drown in it, there's no watered down here, much less anywhere on this album. They know how, where, and when to bounce back and forth between aggression and melody, oh so perfectly. And then that mean fucking lick, letting you know your in trouble. It kicks into high gear. And then the madly insane lead guitar makes it's presence known, in the most creatively monster driven way, that a solo can. The taste this song delivers is of a maddening yet METAL driven life. Nice touch of the digital beat there at the end. I love how they subtly though just in the right spots use the digital effects. Whether it's a choice by the band, or the audio engineer, he or she is a pure fucking genius. One of the best mixes for an album that I have ever had the opportunity to listen to. Very crisp drums, guitars, powerful clear vocals, and yet everything is perfectly balanced. Thank you!

Track 9. Don't Live Like A Slave- An alternative yet beautiful melody, it sort of seems like a mix of digital and perhaps a live instrument not one hundred perfect sure I just now it's an excellent way to open this one up. And then the explosion of METAL. Very brutal shit here. A dark flavor... that quiet possibly the heaviest song on this album, though there have been some ass kicking riffs/solos all throughout this album. The sick fucking double kick has me. Makes you want to pull out and plug in your air guitar. The vocals feel drawn back a bit, but just right in the mix and with their quality. The music is great thoroughly here, timing, riffage taste EVERYTHING. The message conveyed is almost one of awesome yet scary desperation. Such aggression here. Awesome ass kicking dual guitars. Names are taken, and forgotten quickly here, all that matters is the awesome shit that's here. It's a mad mix of cool, hungry, and overbearing metal thrown at you from every direction, it's just well.

Track 10. The Road- A somewhat more wholesome guitar riff begins this piece. A beautiful digital atmospheric digital tone overtakes the background of the track. A piano, consumes you with it's melody. A tight tapping stick, begins the pace, that settles in upon a sweet tight snare. A slow yet sweet groove begins, warm yet passionate vocals, tell a story of a journey, though ending here, are the first of MANY. Eye opening melodies. Thought provoking themes. The kind of things that make us humans ponder life, all the good and bad in everyday life. The melodies speak of a walk, a run, along a path, that has been filled with both prosper and degeneration, tough times, close calls, and things that get it just right... Just like when heavy slow muted distortion rolls in. LOVE that squealing on the guitar. They deliver the METAL, and melodic moments oh perfectly... and it's BALLS TO THE WALL METAL again, slow yet consuming you. Over your head, and under bridges. Vocals that have impressed from start to end, NOTHING is in doubt about the band, or their capabilities. So much delicious music for the ears here. The slow melodic piece returns and winds around the hooks just right, it however ends this album perfectly, upon the rumble of a fading bass guitar.

This review has been a treat for my soul, and for my ears. I have thoroughly... and MASSIVELY enjoyed it. From start to finish this album CONSUMES you... every aspect of their music, touches you in a way a lot of music can not, or probably never will.

DEFINITELY a band I shall keep track of!.

10/10. Perfection. Pure Greatness here, if they are not touring already.... they should be.

facebook.com/Conquest.UA

By Mister Man- Patrick Wooten for www.facebook.com/tasteofkhaos

#UkraineMetalReview