Valkija - Avengers of Steel
Sonic Age - SARECD001 - 26/11/04
By Patrick Walsh
Probably the most striking thing about Valkija is the fact that they're not German, but Italian. This is striking as musically the band exhibits all of the traits that make up German power metal, even going so far as having a singer who sounds like Doro...except with black hair. So by now you should know what to expect with Avengers of Steel; pounding rhythms, speedy riff work and a homage to Judas Priest around every corner. Seriously though, the big test for bands of this ilk is always whether they can tread the fine line between paying homage and direct plagiarisation, and Valkija fail to bring anything remotely new or interesting to the vastly over-saturated Euro-metal market. Yes, it's all played competently, and devotees of the German power metal faith will no doubt find much to get their teeth into here, but those looking for a little substance and variety will have to look elsewhere.
Vocalist Zoraija never seems content to sing with an ounce of restraint, instead going for the jugular and screeching like a banshee at every opportunity. What this results in is a reduction in overall impact which works to the band's detriment, not to mention the fact that she begins to grate rather heavily by the third or fourth track. Since there is an almost constant speedy delivery to the songs throughout the album (think Priest's 'Painkiller' for 45 minutes), closer 'Hatchet Blade' almost sounds fresh when it arrives, but only because it's a more mid-paced number. It still sounds like it could have been written by any other band in this genre, and thus fails to save Avengers of Steel from being added to the already swollen ranks of power metal also-rans. Strictly for those of an undemanding nature who simply must own every single release of this type, regardless of how pointless it is.
4/10
Sonic Age Records' Official Website
Sonic Age - SARECD001 - 26/11/04
By Patrick Walsh
Probably the most striking thing about Valkija is the fact that they're not German, but Italian. This is striking as musically the band exhibits all of the traits that make up German power metal, even going so far as having a singer who sounds like Doro...except with black hair. So by now you should know what to expect with Avengers of Steel; pounding rhythms, speedy riff work and a homage to Judas Priest around every corner. Seriously though, the big test for bands of this ilk is always whether they can tread the fine line between paying homage and direct plagiarisation, and Valkija fail to bring anything remotely new or interesting to the vastly over-saturated Euro-metal market. Yes, it's all played competently, and devotees of the German power metal faith will no doubt find much to get their teeth into here, but those looking for a little substance and variety will have to look elsewhere.
Vocalist Zoraija never seems content to sing with an ounce of restraint, instead going for the jugular and screeching like a banshee at every opportunity. What this results in is a reduction in overall impact which works to the band's detriment, not to mention the fact that she begins to grate rather heavily by the third or fourth track. Since there is an almost constant speedy delivery to the songs throughout the album (think Priest's 'Painkiller' for 45 minutes), closer 'Hatchet Blade' almost sounds fresh when it arrives, but only because it's a more mid-paced number. It still sounds like it could have been written by any other band in this genre, and thus fails to save Avengers of Steel from being added to the already swollen ranks of power metal also-rans. Strictly for those of an undemanding nature who simply must own every single release of this type, regardless of how pointless it is.
4/10
Sonic Age Records' Official Website
