Sacred Outcry – Towers Of Gold
No Remorse Records
Release Date: 19/05/2023
Running Time: 55:26
Review by Richard Oliver
9/10
“Towers Of Gold” is the second album from Greek Power Metal powerhouse Sacred Outcry. The band formed in 1998 and finally got their impressive debut album “Damned For All Time…” released in 2020. “Towers Of Gold” takes the formula established on the debut album and pushes everything further with a bigger, bolder and more dynamic sound as well as being the recorded debut of the new line up of the band.
Bassist George Apaldomimas is the mastermind behind the band and he has composed an epic Power Metal colossus with a sound that harks to the late 90’s and early 00’s European Power Metal heyday. He is also the only member of the band surviving from the previous album with guitarist Steve Lado and drummer Defkalion Dimos being two of the new recruits to the Sacred Outcry camp. Both of the Sacred Outcry albums have had phenomenal vocalists on board with the previous album recruiting the talents of Yannis Papadopoulos (of Beast In Black). Replacing a vocalist with the talent of Yannis would be a tough call for any band but Sacred Outcry have recruited a bonafide Power Metal legend with Daniel Heiman (of Lost Horizon) joining the band and his vocals will truly blow you away here reaching some stratospheric high notes. It’s not all about the vocals though as the music is damn bloody good as well with some meaty, epic and melodic Power Metal. There are speedy numbers such as ‘The Flame Rekindled (Lurid Lights And Drunken Revelry)’ and ‘The Voyage (Towards Immortality)’ as well as some more mid paced powerhouse tunes such as ‘Symphony Of The Night (The Curse Of The Blind)’ and ‘The City Of Stone (The Burden Of The Crownless Kings)’ but the crowning moment of the album is the epic ‘Towers Of Gold (Tempus Edax Rerum)’ which is a near 15 minute monster of a song but across its hefty duration it nails everything great about this band mixing fast-paced Power Metal ,atmospheric yet bombastic moments which hint at a darker sound as well as being gloriously epic. It is an astounding piece of music.
Sacred Outcry are a new band to this reviewer’s ears but this is easily the finest Power Metal album I have heard so far in 2023 and it is going to be pretty hard to top. There are a few throwaway songs that are short enough that it doesn’t affect the flow of the album but this is a very minor criticism. “Towers Of Gold” doesn’t reinvent the wheel in any way but just nails the key ingredients of what makes a Power Metal album so enjoyable. Magnificently cinematic with monster sized melodies, powerhouse vocals, fantastic guitar playing and a pounding rhythm section. If you are a fan of European Power Metal in any way then this is a must hear album.
‘The Flame Rekindled’ Lyric Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. Through Lands Forgotten (At The Crossroads Of Fate)
02. The Flame Rekindled (Lurid Lights And Drunken Revelry)
03. The Voyage (Towards Immortality)
04. Into The Storm (Beyond The Lost Horizon)
05. Symphony Of The Night (The Curse Of The Blind)
06. A Midnight Reverie (Whispers In The Wind)
07. The Sweet Wine Of Betrayal (The Perennial Sin)
08. The City Of Stone (The Burden Of The Crownless Kings)
09. Towers Of Gold (Tempus Edax Rerum)
10. Where Crimson Shadows Dwell (And Ouroboros Dreamt)
LINE-UP:
Daniel Heiman – Vocals
Steve Lado – Guitars
Defkalion Dimos – Drums
George Apalodimas – Bass
LINKS:
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