Demons & Wizards - Self Titled
Review by Martin Roger

Steamhammer/SPV - 2000
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It is a beautiful fusion between Blind Guardian and Iced Earth. With the awesome staccato riffing of Jon Schaffer (guitarist of Iced Earth), and the incredible voice of Hansi Kürsch (lead vocalist of Blind Guardian). Powerfull at the beginning, with the song "Rites Of Passage" and "Heaven's Denied". I was charmed by the excelent song "Fiddler On The Green". Unfortunately, I expected has an album much more aggressive of their share, although I like much the ballads, it feels like there is too much of it.

4/5

Edguy - Theater Of Salvation
Review by Martin Roger

AFM Record - 1999
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Unfortunately Edguy are on a shitty record label, otherwise they would have been huge and famous, and probably have sold as much albums as Stratovarius and Helloween. Edguy do melodic power metal as it shall be done. That means catchy songs, lots of power and energy, and with a fabulous vocalist. One of the main contenders for album of the year award!

4/5

Freedom Call - Stairway To Fairyland
Review by Martin Roger

Steamhammer/SPV - 1999
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With a band that consist of Gamma Ray's Dan Zimmermann among others, there is really no surprise that this is melodic German metal. At times Freedom Call reminds of Helloween, but who cares as long as the songs are as strong as on "Stairway To Fairyland". There's lots of cool riffs and catchy melodies, and some keyboards give the record a little bit of symphonic sound. All the songs here are strong, but I do think I have to mention "Tears Of Taragon" and "Tears Falling" as being my favorites. Anyway, this is a CD you'd like hear the whole of over and over again.

4/5

Gamma Ray - Powerplant
Review by Martin Roger

Noise - 1999
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This is a Masterpiece!! A few song like the covertrack, "It's A Sin", "Heavy Metal Universe" and especially "Short as Hell", are not up to Gamma Rays normal standards. They sound more like Metallica or Manhowar. But, the songs which are good, like "Anywhere in the Galaxy", "Razorblade Sigh", "Wings of Destiny" and the album-closer "Armageddon", are simply so strong that they make me forget the weaker ones. Stylewise, the fans of this German bunch have nothing to fear. The style is more or less the same as it was on "Somewhere Out In Space".

5/5

Iron Savior - Unification
Review by Martin Roger

Noise - 1998
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This is much better than expected from Iron Savior. Their mixture of German speed metal and more traditional power metal haven't changed much, but Piet Sielck has become a better vocalist and songwriter. The guitarwork of Sielck and Kai Hansen is really impressive too. There is a lot of strong songs here, like "Coming Home, "Eye To Eye" and "Mind Over Matter". Sound and production are also very good.

5/5

Primal Fear - Jaws of Death
Review by Martin Roger

Nuclear Blast Records - 1999
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This German outfit enjoyed surprisingly high sales and a huge amount of success after their debut last year, and with this one, Ralf Scheepers & co. continue to pay homage to their ancestors. Sure, this is as Judas Priest as it gets, but they know how to write good material, thus saving themselves from being labelled as "clones". A straightforward German metal-album - if you liked the debut, you'll kill for this one.

4.5/5

W.A.S.P - The Best of The Best - Volume I 1984 to 2000
Review by Martin Roger

Snapper Music - 2000
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Blacky Lawless and Chriss Holmes, my idol when I was teen. How could someone hate them? The burning logo, the blood drinking from a skull, the buzzsaw blades, the chick tied to a rack, the raw meat, the track "Fuck Like A Beast". They are back with a new Best Of. What was wrong with First Blood Last Cut? In my opinion, I don't think this is really the Best of the Best. I really prefer First Blood Last Cut. There'is no track from "The Headless Children" neither from "The Crimeson Idol", whish I think are the best two W.A.S.P. album evern made. There are however 7 tracks on this CD that were on the last best of. The other new track "Unreal" is better than just about anything on the last W.A.S.P. CD "Helldorodo" and sounds more like a classic W.A.S.P. tune. You might want it if you are a Die Hard fan like me.

3/5