Mystic Prophecy are back with a metal CD of which to be rightly proud.
I have been a fan of the music of Mystic Prophecy (MP) ever since I heard their debut album 'Vengeance' which came out in 2001. I was initially drawn to the heavy melodic guitar work of (an at the time) little known guitarist called Gus G and the powerful dramatic power metal that the band as a whole produced. Over the next few years the band has continued to produce a plethora of wonderful metal albums but they have been plagued with the dreaded curse of innumerable line-up changes. That they kept up the performing and song writing quality shows just how much the band itself meant to its various members.
So, we now fast forward through the next several (very good) years, until we get to this brand new release 'Killhammer' and once again we find Mystic Prophecy firing on all six cylinders. With an album of melodic heavy metal that hits all of the sweet spots head on and then passes them in a blur of speed, MP have in my humble opinion returned with what could just be their best album yet. Opening with 'Killhammer' the band start by trying to pummel your ears into submission and this auditory assault continues right up to the very last note that you hear. Yet as powerful as this assault from MP is, they also insinuate melodic refrain after melodic refrain, so that tracks like 'To Hell And Back', 'Hate Black', the infectious 'Children Of The Damned', 'Warriors Of The Northern Sea' and 'Set The World On Fire' have you singing along happily with them after only a few play through's.
Power metal is a very congested genus at the moment, you can't turn around these days seemingly without hitting another new band trying to get into the genre, so it's always nice to see one of the old guard putting out a smouldering slab of molten metal that the new whippersnappers should sit up and take note of.
Mystic Prophecy are back with a metal CD of which to be rightly proud ...
Ian Johnson
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