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Finally some new metal music that is just
plain old heavy metal! I mean traditional or 80's-style
metal and not rap-metal, nu-metal, or whatever is playing
on the radio these days. You get the picture? For those
of you, like me, who are fans of old school heavy metal
like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden and 80's-style metal like
Metallica and Megadeth, you know what I am talking about.
We like our metal straight up...
CAGE, formed in 1992 in San Diego, released
its first album, Unveiled, in 1998. The following
year, the band won Germany's Rock Hard magazine's best unsigned
band of 1999 award and played the prestigious DYNAMO festival
in Holland with none other than Metallica. Astrology
is the band's second release. With powerful and soaring
vocals, grinding riffs, and pounding drums, all the ingredients
are there for a headbanging good time. From the first song,
their sound reminded me more than a little of Queensryche,
with singer Sean Peck's vocals reminiscent in range and
style of Geoff Tate. Dave Garcia and Eric Horton provide
the dual-guitar attack with alternating solos. Mike Giordano
on bass and Mikey Niel on drums complete the band's sound.
Coming in at over 72 minutes, there are 14
songs on the album (the 14th track is a bonus on the US
release). The songs are consistent and flow well, giving
them a sort of "concept album" feel. The theme of the album
is astrology (hence the name, right?) and the lyrics deal
with the mind, the universe, life and death, good and evil.
There isn't a bad song on the whole album, although I really
liked the first 3 songs: "Final Solution", "Psychotically
Deranged", and "The Edge"; they had me banging
my head pretty much non-stop. There is even a love song
(!) on the album called "Souls and Flesh" —
kind of an ode to soulmates.
CAGE is better known in Europe where, ironically,
"traditional" American heavy metal is very popular.
Their 3rd album is set to be released in the fall of 2002.
Hopefully they will continue in the direction they are going
by playing great metal, and expand their fan base in the
U.S. as more people hear about them.
Bottom Line: Fans of old school heavy metal,
80's metal, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Queensryche, and
those who just want to bang their heads to some good metal
music should check this one out.
Shred Pick - "Final Solution"
Reviewed by Lisa Kongsvik
Band Website: www.cageheavymetal.com
Order
CAGE - Astrology from
Order
CAGE - Astrology from
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