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INTENSE - AS OUR ARMY GROWS
NAPALM RECORDS
METAL TO INFINITY
Recently, there is a buzz going on in the U.K., because we get a handful of great bands from the United Kingdom in a small period of time. I guess that the underground is preparing to spit out the next generation of talented musicians.... For instance the band Intense, who supply the masses with their second release called "As Our Army Grows". A perfect title to describe the appetite for success and domination. In the year 2004, the band released already a first disc, named "Second Sight", on the Italian Underground Symphony Records. After this release, the band promoted that album by playing live with congeners Primal Fear, Evergrey, Sonata Arctica and Children of Bodom. A video was shot for the track "War Of Angels" which gained pretty much TV airplay on Sky. So far, the story was successful, but despite a limited promotion, the band didn't reach their goal.
This second story starts with the recording of their next album. The same studio was entered (Thin Ice Studios), the same producer was hired (Karl Groom, known from Threshold), and mastering took place in Holland (Fine Tune). While the front cover artwork of the first album was done by the almighty J.P. Fournier, the band decided to work together with Mattias Noren, who worked previously with Evergrey, Jag Panzer and Kamelot.
Another label was found, and Napalm Records offered Intense a deal in the beginning of 2007. The band is ready for their next trip and the power metal is prominent spread over the 10 songs that can be found. ''As Our Army Grows'' proves that the band worked hard on the new material and that their live concerts resulted in a homogeneous and tighter performance. The vocals of Sean Hetherington are supplement to the music and his influences include Iced Earth and Nevermore. Combine this throat with a hammering rhythm and triplet guitars and you know that this band deserves to be taken serious. Intense is like the name describes: lurid, showy and garish and the music will bang your head!
If this band is promoted like it should, it could be a very busy year for Intense and Napalm Records. A tour throughout the UK and Europe will bring the 5 metalheads to a place near you and they will take you by storm with a strong live set! Perhaps you have seen their latest videoclip for the track ''Fear Is Not Enough'', but if not, you will get the chance to go through their spattering shows and hours of pleasure while listening to this record. My rating: 87/100
Patrick de Sloover on behalf of Metal To Infinity Webzine