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ARMORY - THE DAWN OF ENLIGHTENMENT
INDEPENDENT
METAL TO INFINITY
Townsend, Massachusetts USA residents Armory is a young aged Melodic Metal band formed back in 2001 by two guitar players Joe Kurland (also session drummer) and Chad Fisher. Two guys who had the ambition to start on a band, more specifically a formation influenced by the forces of Traditional and Euro Power Metal, also they wanted to ad some Thrash and Progresive elements to their music too. Other guys came on to complete the ranks were in the first place Joe's brother named Adam Kurland as vocalist, bassist Thomas Treziosi... a few years later on a keyboard pounder joined forces by the name of Peter Rutcho. During live gigs, Tom Vieira takes place behind the drumkit.
Full of ambitions as they were during the first period of existence, 10 songs were written and a debut album was in sight but...some disruption giving elements was still lacking which means that Armory had work to do. But the guys don't give up and kept on working their fingers to the bone and finally, after three years of recording, mixing and writing songs...Armory first output was a fact. Why it took so lang is quite simple to explane. They had the duty going to school which was not that easy in combination of completing an album you know. Anyway, main point of all was that Armory's album was completed under the titled of "The Dawn Of Enlightenment". This effort was well received but the promoting of it all did not prove being optimum. The skills, the ambition, the energy were all at hand but without a decent way of promoting your own stuff it becomes not easy to spread the name of your band.
Early 2005, plans were forged to re-recorded the album, this time in a much more professional way. Programmed keyboard works on the original version of the album were replaced by own handed movements, reworked vocal lines...to keep everything short, all were taking under hands and a full and totally new sound was approaching. The re-recorded version of "The Dawn Of Enlightenment" saw the light of day as an independent work late December 2007. I can contemplate myself as a lucky individual because Armory was able to send me a copy of this reworked release and i was pretty curious to hear what they had to offer.
The total parcel (cover art / inlay / lay-out) saw promising and very professional. As soon as the listen session started, i was quite impressed about the great production. First things first, this album has a beautiful sound quality...maybe a bit too modern minded to me but hey, i'm still satisfied! Concerning Armory's style i'd like to mention these guys are inspired by some of the biggest Metal monsters on earth such as early Helloween, Edguy, Gamma Ray, Savatage ("Edge Of Thorns" period), Hammerfall, slices of Children Of Bodom...and last but surely not least their greatest idols i guess named Iron Maiden. You can feel the 'Maiden' inspirations from start till finish, you can't deny that!
Great singer also, very clear with some high pitched capacities...feels good to me! Magnificent guitar works which reflects a perfect duo...if you're into guitar shreds, make sure to order this effort right away! Scorching solo's and brilliant riffs makes it all very joyful to listen at. Very technical bass works in the vein of one of the greatest bass riddlers ever, Steve Harris! About the keyboards, well they fit in certain circumstances and giving the music a more progressive touch. What concerns me, i had left these in default. Armory is made to make pure Heavy Metal music, with adding these keyboard movements there goes a little piece of Metal quality lost to me. On the other hand, fans of Progressive Metal will be satisfied! Make up your own mind is my advise.
After 'The Tempest', the album starts in overdrive with the song 'Faith In Steel'...great track with awesome vocals and very melodic guitars. Make notice all the time of the incredible bass lines!! The album goes on with superb tracks like: 'Rising The Cosmic Winds', 'Forever Triumphant', 'Warrior Forlorn', 'Forged In Dragon Flames', 'The Dawn Of Enlightenment' and as i was expected a Maiden cover song entitled 'Flight Of Icarus' (bonus one) which i played very nice, you won't hear me complaining at all!
Conclusion: Armory is a very promising band who just delivered a reworked version of an album that has cost a lot of energy to complete but the guys never gave up the fight which proves Armory is a band with ambition. They want to reach something while playing Heavy Metal music and has succeeded so far. They go for it with full force and i hope these guys can catch a label contract real soon so the name Armory can be heard on international ground. We'll certainly hear more of them in the close future! More info at: www.faithinsteel.com / www.myspace.com/armorymetal MY POINTS: 87 / 100