Flashback CD Review #22 - Azrael's Bane - Wings of Innocence

This review was originally written for the Rock Is Life.com website in 2005.

Azrael's Bane

Wings of Innocence

Chavis Records - 2005

http://www.azraelsbane.com

What's The 4-1-1?

The Houston, Texas based quintet have re-released their 2003 debut album with new artwork and a bonus song.

Genre

Power Metal / Progressive Metal / Hard Rock

The Good

Wow, I am really thrilled with this album. The band combines a progressive metal vocal sound with a more traditional power metal / hard rock musical sensibility and they pull it off. The band's subject matter in some of their songs is rather typical. "Psycho Serenade" is about a serial killer and "Mercy" deals in S&M imagery, but instead of sounding dated, the songs come off as rather fresh sounding.

The song "Waiting" features a phenomenal guitar solo. The band also adds some audio enhancements to certain tracks. "Foolish Pride" starts off with a rain storm that sets a moody and somber night time feel to the song. The aforementioned "Psycho Serenade" is started with a news report. The lead track "Shine" is getting the band a lot of notice and is even being featured on an upcoming compilation for a music festival called Prog Power USA VI.

The Bad

There is really nothing wrong with the 12 songs presented on the album. However, the bonus track, the Ozzy Osbourne cover "Diary of a Madman" is not included on the promo copy I received. You can find a 97 second clip of the song online at the record company's website under the band news section (2011 Update: The site is gone now as the record company is out of business.)

Another problem not related to the band's music itself is that the website information for the record company is not made clear. The promo sheet that came with the CD has the site as Chavis Records.net (which is the correct address), but right on the CD it says Chavis Records.com. I think they need to straighten out that little flaw in their quality control right quick because it makes them look a might bit sloppy.

The Verdict

The press materials for this album cite the band's influences as being Iron Maiden, Queensryche and Savatage among others. I'm happy to report that this isn't just your normal outrageous public relations hyperbole. Azrael's Bane has put together a CD that would fit in right at home with the classic metal albums of the 1980's. For my money this is what metal should aim to be all the time.

Did You Know?

Azrael's Bane drummer Rick Ward formerly played in the band Distant Thunder. Guitarist Chuck McFadden once performed as Ace Frehley in the Kiss tribute band The Band Not Formerly Known As Kiss.

Rating: 4 out of 5