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Axenstar > The Final Requiem > Reviews
Axenstar - The Final Requiem

Mostly disposable - 60%

BloodIronBeer, June 21st, 2007

In power metal, there are many bands that are good to tap your foot to; catchy bands with little substance, that after a number of listens begin to show their true colors. The kind of bands that when you first hear them, might seem really appealing, but after a few spins, you realize there is nothing there but an all too frequent catchy chorus. These bands mostly give power metal a bad name, and somehow manage to remain just as popular as the truly exceptional bands. With the exception of their sophomoric Far From Heaven, Axenstar falls squarely into the dime-a-dozen, disposable power metal band category. It's not that this album is bad, it's just a matter of having so many things that surpass it that I could be listening to.

Their songs are simple, upbeat, predictable and somewhat unique in that they have a distinctly non-metal feel. Yes, there is an unmistakable touch of that harmless type of punk.

Many of the songs here sound pretty similar, and unlike Far From Heaven, there is not many hook-filled riffs, and an absence of real anthems. Songs like The Hide, Thirteen and Spirit, not only sound far too similar, but are simply uneventful nonsense that goes no where.

The drums are simple and uninteresting. The riffs are power chord-only, customary power metal. The vocals are the only special element, because this guy does have a unique voice, and he does a good job here.

The only standout tracks are the title track, Underworld and Edge of the World. Underworld does put forth the emotion required to bring power metal beyond mediocrity, and it's damn catchy. Edge of the World starts with a Dark Tranquility-like phased intro, and goes predictably into the rest of the song, but it's a much better track than most on here. The title track is an immensely catchy song that accomplishes the Axenstar sound the way it should be, but unfortunately the rest of the album does not follow suit. Oh yes, and the final track does have an awesome opening riff.

Mostly the familiarity between songs and the formulaic song writing anchors this down the most. That and the simplicity. It doesn't have the zest, the catchiness, or even the basic song writing subtleties that Far From Heaven had to bring it up to greatness. It's not all bad, but again, why listen to this when I could listen to bands like Pagan's Mind, Gamma Ray, Angra, Dragonland, Hibria, Lost Horizon or Galneryus, just to name a few contemporary power metal bands that blow this stuff away?

A leap foward for Axenstar - 94%

concertmusic, September 22nd, 2006

Axenstar offer up their fourth full-length studio CD with "The Final Requiem". After releasing a solid debut effort in 2002, their next two releases each made a couple of small steps forward in terms of both music and production, so the hope for this CD was for at least another small progression in the right direction.

Seconds into the first track, it becomes clear that this has the potential to show not just small steps, but a big leap forward for Axenstar. The sound is crystal-clear, everything is in its place, with the guitars in the foreground, the vocals just right, and the keyboards, bass and drums right there in support. One very big difference from their previous releases hits the ears immediately - this is much heavier fare, with more aggression and power than before.

I have previously remarked that Axenstar made me feel happy, in that the music was easy-going metal, fun to listen to, even though the lyrics have always been standard somber power metal material. Well, this heavier version of the same concept makes me evne happier! When before I was happily foot-tapping along, this time around the foot is joined by the head and shoulders, making this CD a very good power metal experience. The music now also makes a better fit with the lyrics, showing some forays into minor keys to illustrate the darker texts (particularly in "The Hide").

The CD contains 12 tracks, and every one is a possible power metal anthem. Not a bad section anywhere, simply very well-done metal for 54 minutes. The aforementioned potential has been fully realized. Axenstar have really improved in every aspect, making this CD one that a serious power metal fan should really not be without.

There is nothing ground-breaking here, mind you, but all of it is enjoyable stuff. I don't know whether their move to the Nuclear Blast label had anything to do with these positive changes, but I for one will look actively forward to their next release, instead of just noticing it once it has hit the market.