On disc: StormWarrior

 
 Stormwarrior
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Stormwarrior
 
- Volker Raabe -
 
 


 
 Heading Northe
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Heading Northe
 
- Philip Thelen -
 
 


 
 Heathen Warrior
 
- Lars Bjørn -
 
 

Heathen Warrior

(Massacre Records - 2011)



 
 

 

The group started in 1998 and quickly got lots of praise for the music, Lars Ramcke and his friends were playing. They were inspired by other German metal bands like Gamma Ray, Running Wild and others, and got in contact with Kai Hansen, so it ended with Hansen producing their first two albums. Great success and more shows followed, in 2009 the CD Heading Northe saw the light of day, and now in May 2011 it's time for their 4th studio album, this time mastered by Jakob Hansen (worked for Hammerfall, Pretty Maids etc) and Massacre Records is the label behind them now. Stormwarrior is all about Viking metal, power metal and true metal all put together in the same Northern mythology melting pot where the greatest and heaviest songs are kept. Nobody can have doubts about the way Stormwarrior are going, it's massive Viking inspired metal without soft spots to ease things up. They go for the hard image, and full deserved Massacre Records is now behind them to spread the word further ahead.



Generally the music is based on very heavy bass guitars dominating alongside the two guitarist, the divine symmetric heaviness is so massive that you must be blown aside when Stormwarrior enters. The Ride Of Asgard is this powerful song with great bass guitar spitting obscenities, extremely solid performed. Heathen Warrior is guitar rhythm at full speed, the song has a quality of very long drawn guitar riffs with the outcome being boring in any way, splendid. Heirs To The Fighte is the Viking spirit of the album as if it was the old Vikings who played the metal themselves, fantastic rhythm. Fyre & Ice is the most heavy song of them all, and it really has something extra to add to the metallic sound, you'll be surprised when you hear it yourself. The best comes in the end: The Valkyries Call, which is superb metal that circles the metal genre in, so that even new metal listeners can start somewhere, this song is full of genius guitar riffs so you have to give up. Stormwarrior have really done a great album this time.






 
 










Lars Bjørn


  
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Heading Northe

(Dockyard 1 - 2008)



 
 

 

Heading Northe is the third album released by StormWarrior. The intro And The Horde Calleth For Oden starts with mysterious sounds and it does sound like Viking warriors are marching. It goes directly over to the title track Heading Northe. This one is a fast neck breaker for everyone who loves true metal! It's one of my favourites in this album. For example, you won't get the refrain out of your head! It's impossible. Next song Metal Legacy is an up-tempo song with the typical 'we will die for metal' attitude. But it's a really cool song! The Holy Cross starts with horse galloping and got a bit Manowar-ish character. The following song Iron Gods remind me with the double riffs in the beginning on old Maiden songs, before it gets faster. It's another song, you won't get out of your head. The guitar solos got something of the old Maiden style, too. Ragnarök is again a song about the Northern mythologies, tribute to the end of the world. The Revenge Of Asa Lande is a mid-tempo song. The chorus invites the fans to sing along with the band. But as they are, they throw in another speedy song called Remember The Oath. But due to the speediness, they don't miss the melody in the refrain. And after this heavy and fast song, there has to be a ballad. A Northern ballad? Lion Of The North starts with slow guitars, but grows to a fast one before it calms down again. With Into The Battle there is another fight song on this album with melodic guitars an epic voices. And how the name says And The Valkyries Ride is an epic outro, epic enough for this true metal band!

The music is really fresh with such a power! You can feel the passion and fun the band had while recording. I like this album.

Check out: Heading Northe, Metal Legacy, The Holy Cross, Iron Gods
 
 










Philip Thelen


  
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Heading Northe

(Dockyard 1 - 2008)



 
 

 

This is the 3rd album of the Hamburg-based true metal heads StormWarrior and again the quartet is lyrically linked to Nordic mythology. Since their self-titles debut was released in 2002 the band played a lot live and decided to record their latest one in their own studio Thunderhall Studio. In the past Kai Hansen was involved in the production, this time they only gave away the mixing - Piet Sielck - and the final mastering which was done by Tommy Hansen. Btw, the cover artwork which is showing some Viking boats is done by Uwe Karczewski who did a couple of Helloween cover in the past.

The intro And The Horde Calleth For Oden leads into the title track Heading Northe, a fast neck breaker. The influence of Helloween at Walls Of Jerico days is still there, but they progressed and especially Lars Ramcke's vocals improved. Heavy riffing is forcing the song ahead, but the catchy refrain hooks you up easily. With a metal anthem called Metal Legacy they continue - an up-tempo one with melody and power, but they stick to their true metal roots. With a dash Manowar... Which isn't a surprise in my opinion. With the sound of galloping horses passing by The Holy Cross kicks off. For a moment the riffing is Maiden-ish, but this fast one is closer to old Helloween then to Iron Maiden. Another catchy one. A mid-tempo tune is The Revenge Of Asa Lande which presents heavy riffs and a sing-along refrain. But then they speed up again with Remember The Oathe before it gets a little balladesque with Lion Of The Northe - in the beginning. But then they storm again. One more and then And The Valkyries Ride is lead out they was they opened up, this time a bit more symphonic á la Manowar.

StormWarrior offer about 45 minutes of true / power metal with reminiscences to old Helloween, Runnind Wild and Rebellion. The album shows that StormWarrior are on their way to the top of this genre and at least in Germany there aren't many bands to battle.

For fans of these bands as well as of true and power metal this one is a must-buy. Power metal fans who aren't overly into true metal should check out: Metal Legacy, The Holy Cross and Into The Battle.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Stormwarrior

(Remedy Records - 2002)



 
 

 

Stormwarrior is a band from Hamburg which main influences are the Running Wild and Helloween (the early years). The band released their first demo in 1999 and got great critics from the underground magazines and fans. Another demo (Barbaric Steel) followed in 2000. A year later the 7" Possessed By Metal was released and soon the limited 333 copy-edition was sold out! Early this year another limited 7" was released and as successful as the first one. A good reason for Remedy Records to offer them a deal. Now their first CD is in the stores!

The Hanseatic recorded their debut in Ham­burg in the studio of Kai Hansen and Dirk Schlächter. Kai Hansen produced the album and engineered / mixed it together with his partner in crime Dirk Schlächter. Btw, the artwork is done by Uwe Karczewski who did covers for e.g. Helloween and Iron Angel.

Musically they offer a kind of modern version of bands like Helloween and Running Wild. Powerful fast metal songs with screaming guitars, dueling guitars, pounding bass and heavy, fast double bass drum. The songs might not sneak into your brain with the first spin, but give the CD a few more and you'll not forget them! Not really catchy, but you won't forget them. Listen to Sons Of Steel, Bounde By The Oathe and The Axewiehler and you'll know what I mean. Sometimes it's like Helloween (Hansen era) is back, on other tracks it's more Running Wild. For all fans who miss the early days of German metal, this is what are you looking for! On the limited digi-pack edition you find a bonus track, they recorded Helloween's Heavy Metal (Is The Law)! Listen to this one, it's a heavy, fast version, full of power!

Just great!!!!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Stormwarrior

(Remedy Records - 2002)



 
 

 

I was really looking forward for this album a) the cover artwork is brilliant (a kneeling warrior on a battlefield with lots of cut off heads) and b) the guys play true - handmade - underground metal. After the first spin of the self-titled album of the Germans I was more than impressed. Or should I say some kind of solemnity? Thunderer, a track which I knew from the homepage of Stormwarrior, rules and the rest of the material will slaughter every rival. Also the bonus track, a cover version of Helloween's Heavy Metal, is brilliant. Sure, the guys know how to play and if you compare them with the latest releases of bands of the warrior genre like Wizard, Majesty, The Claymore or Ritual Steel, then Stormwarrior is absolutely as good as the named ones. The guys enjoy playing which is obvious and that makes the heart of a metal head happy. The battle hymns like Sons Of Steele, Iron Prayers, Deceiver of the warriors are great, sound honest and that they aren't on the way to woo of the metal crown with bands like Metallica. The production is really good and make you forget the stereotype song writing. It's good that there are still many bands who go their way with all consequences and from a debut you don't expect a masterpiece, right? Go on, guys! You're on the right trail.

Hail to Stormwarrior!!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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