▄█████▄ ░█████▄ ▄████▄░█▄ ░█▄ ▄█████▄ ███▄██ ▄██ ▄█▄ ▄██████ ▄█▄ ▄███ ░████░██▀████▓ ▀██ ▄██░▀█████ ████ ███▓ ██████▓██ ▓███████ ███▓░▀█▀████ ███▓ ███▓ ▓███░ ██ ██▄ ▄██▓██ ▓███▓██░ ▓███░███░███████████▄ ███░███░ ███░ ▄███ ███ ▄█▀░ ████████░██ █████████▄ ▓██░███ ███▓█████████ ███████ ███ ███░ ███████ ███▓ ░██ ██ ██████▓ ░██ ▀██ ███░███▓██████ ███▓███ ███ ███ ████████░███░ ███ ██▄ ██▓███░ ██▄ ██░██▓ ███ ▀▀████ ███░███ ███ ███ ███▓░███████░ ███ ███▓██ ███ ███▓██▓██░ ███ ▓████ ███ ███ ▓██▓ ███ ███░ ▓██████ ███ ▓████ ▓██▄ ▓████████ ███ ▓███ ███ ███ ███░███ ███ ░██████ ███ ░████ ░███ ███▓███▓ ███ ░███ ███ ███ ██▓███ ███ ███▓██ ███ ███ ▓██▄ ███░███░ ███ ███ ███ ███ ░█████ ███ ██▓░██▄ ███ ▓█▀ ▓██▄ ███ ██░ ███ ██▓ ███ ███ ░███▀ ░█▀ ██░ ██ ░█▀ ░███▄ ▀ ▀ ▓█▀ ███░ ░█▀ ██▀ ██░ ▄██▀ ░█▄ ▄███▀ ░██ ░ ██ ▓░ ▓░ ██░ ▓█░ ░█▀ ▀█░ ░█▓ ░ ██ ██ Artist: Blitzkrieg ██ ██ ▓ █░░ ■█ Album: Back From Hell █■ ░░█ ■ █▓▀ █ Year: 2013 █ ▀▓█ ░ █ ▓ Rel. Date: 2014-05-09 ▓ █ ▒ ▒ Genre: Heavy Metal ▒ ▒ █▄ ░ Label: Metal Nation Records ░ ▄█ ░ █▄ ░ Source: CD ░ ▄█ ░ █▓ Type: Album ▓█ ░ ▓ █ Quality: VBR, 44.1kHz, Joint Stereo █ ░ ▓ ▓ █ █ ░ ▓ ▄ ■ ■ ▓ ■ ░█ █░ ▀ █ The Metal worlds survived the blitzkrieg. After so █ █ many break ups, comebacks, a career span that █ █ influenced some of the chief Metal bands in the █ █ industry like, METALLICA for instance (which also █ █ paid tribute with a cover), the NWOBHM British █ █ steamroller, BLITZKRIEG, return with a new album █ █ after a dry season that lasted for a period of six █ █ years since "Theatre Of The Damned". Freshened █ █ with new band mates, which one of them returned █ █ after two decades, the howler Brian Ross (also █ █ known from the Speed / Heavy Metal SATAN fame that █ █ also made their comeback a few years ago and █ █ released a new album) and his crew issued "Back █ █ From Hell", via their new old home at Metal Nation █ █ Records (ex-Neat Records that signed the band back █ █ in the early 80's). Without changing their musical █ █ perspective, maybe tweaks of production that █ █ maintained an 80's sagaciousness to their sound, █ █ BLITZKRIEG assembled quite an impressive Metal █ █ that continued their legacy in a manner that █ █ retained the honor and respect they deserve. █ █ All throughout the release I couldn't escape that █ █ fact that BLITZKRIEG paved a road within NWOBHM █ █ that made it a bit fiercer and tougher, unlike the █ █ movement's outputs in the late 70's and even some █ █ of the band's that continued their music through █ █ the early 80's when the British steel pinnacle █ █ developed even further. Even in 2013, listening to █ █ "Back From Hell" is like listening to "Kill 'Em █ █ All" or even SLAYER's "Show No Mercy" as an █ █ addition. However, it is the other way around █ █ because these bands, probably SLAYER as well grew █ █ up on BLITZKRIEG, even when the Brits didn't issue █ █ an album before the American's breakthrough into █ █ the Metal market. Furthermore, there were a number █ █ of indications of JUDAS PRIEST's old discography, █ █ late 70's and early 80's inducements together with █ █ Dio's era with BLACK SABBATH. Possibly, these two █ █ icons influenced the band itself, back in the day █ █ and even nowadays. Therefore, it can be evident █ █ that nothing is all too demanding when it comes to █ █ BLITZKRIEG's songs, save for "Buried Alive", and █ █ old hit of the band that was re-recorded and the █ █ "payback" cover for METALLICA's vintage hit "Seek █ █ And Destroy" that emphasized the longing for the █ █ band's hunger days, the Brits raptured with █ █ substantially heavy material that still feels █ █ British, crispy and energized by haunting melodies █ █ that several specified a vibe off classic Hard █ █ Rock. Ross's vocals sounded, even if sometimes █ █ rather monotone, as if he hasnÆt aged at all and █ █ his finishing touches high register yelps, █ █ appeared like a kind of tradition when listening █ █ to this guy, are still strong and commanding. █ █ "One Last Time" is not what you would call a Heavy █ █ Metal chugger, yet it sounded more like a heavier █ █ version of a BOSTON song, somewhat romantic, █ █ heavenly melodic and excruciating with pain, quite █ █ a magnificent turn out as a true 80's power flame. █ █ "We Have Assumed Control", "Return To The Village" █ █ and "Back From Hell" are an impressive old school █ █ driven NWOBHM numbers, presenting BLITZKRIEG as an █ █ honest Heavy Metal act that pinch with a few of █ █ the basics of the genre, yet with an ounce of █ █ nostalgic passion to have you taste the goods of █ █ what these guys have to offer. When it comes to █ █ sound, frankly whoever is bothering himself with █ █ production values and technical terms will find █ █ several flaws, however, as old school as the █ █ material is, the generated BLITZKRIEG sound suited █ █ them. Consequently, "Back From Hell" is a well █ █ reserved release of British Metal nature, younger █ █ Metalheads would be able to assert who influenced █ █ who and take point from there and respect their █ █ Metal godfathers. █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ Well it has been just over half a decade and sin █ █ and greed have prevailed in the theater of the █ █ damned, such that another BLITZKRIEG is unleashed. █ █ This tenacious act are truly ôBack From Hellö and █ █ assuming control, such that they have allowed for █ █ the proper time of changes, as Brian, Bill and Ken █ █ return for their latest mission to seek out new █ █ fans and destroy any illusions from their past; █ █ thereby preserving the spirit of the legend. █ █ As much as I worship SATAN's latest offering, I █ █ was so anticipating to be equally as enthralled █ █ with this return to the deluge, and unholy true █ █ nitty gritty , as only the vice kings know how do. █ █ Unfortunately, as much as this is a well-written █ █ album, it is not recapturing their glory, as much █ █ as I had hoped, and this creates for me a █ █ complicated issue. I adore the vocals of Brian █ █ Ross, and I am pleased that he has created the █ █ time to work on a new BLITZKRIEG release. There █ █ are some damn good songs on here that are real █ █ soul stealers, and some fillers as well. So █ █ prepare to feel the pain, and the wraith of fury. █ █ The album begins with a flashback to Whitechapel █ █ and Jack The Ripper leading into the title track █ █ and alluding to the Hughes Brothers excellent film █ █ with Johnny Depp. Then we are treated to the █ █ metalizer from yesterday, as ôBuried Aliveö is █ █ properly reworked with a modern touch. Then the █ █ best song present plays that is an experimental █ █ track dealing with pain and loss due to drug abuse █ █ called ôComplicated Issueö, nicely balanced by █ █ alluring female vocals. ôReturn To The Villageö █ █ serves as a sequel to ôEscape From The Villageö █ █ recapturing that absolutely powerful TRAITORS GATE █ █ vibe reminiscent of the ôTime Of Changesö era, as █ █ does the closer ôWe Have Assumed Controlö. █ █ After this is when the album begins to splinter, █ █ because I am not quite sure what direction the █ █ band is headed. ôBack From Hellö expresses a █ █ number of emotions, but some tracks are completely █ █ derailed. The narration from the movie ôV For █ █ Vendettaö for the song ôVö referring to the ôFifth █ █ Of Decemberö, and the recusant Guy Fawkes give a █ █ sense of false hope for a rather basic song, with █ █ no real zip. ôSleepy Hollowö is just that: hollow, █ █ and lulling me to sleep. ôSaharaö is a little too █ █ involved, too chugging, and not really amounting █ █ to anything enticing; I am just lost in the dust. █ █ The savage beast culminating in ôCall For The █ █ Priestö is an excellent homage to JUDAS PRIEST, █ █ but the lyrics are a bit too hell bent to pay █ █ proper homage to the infernal leathclad Metal █ █ Gods. Although, I do appreciate the roaring night █ █ howl scream for vengeance which Brian bellows. As █ █ if struck by lightning of the nations, they chose █ █ to pay homage to the mighty METALLICA. I suppose █ █ since both HOLOCAUST and DIAMOND HEAD have covered █ █ the band who blatantly stole their music, it is █ █ only befitting that BLITZKRIEG should also return █ █ the favor, in tow. I just wish they would have █ █ selected something from ôRide The Lightningö, as █ █ BLITZKRIEG riffs are present all over that album; █ █ especially, on ôTrapped Under Iceö and the title █ █ track. █ █ Overall, this is a solid release, and the crazy █ █ for you Brits are truly taking care of business. █ █ If you enjoy the last few albums from this decade, █ █ then I recommend giving this a fair listen; █ █ however, if you are longing for that classic '80s █ █ sound, or even the experimental style they █ █ attempted it the mid '90s, then ôBack From Hellö █ █ may have you searching for your missed Avalon. █ █ Granted there are hints of the pure past buried in █ █ the live authenticity and perennial vision which I █ █ savor; however, there are moments where it is █ █ evident that they are just taking the easy way █ █ out, and letting us down. █ █ Ever vigilant is the sentinel, and here is hoping █ █ that Brian and the boys back in town will take a █ █ look around and realize we want that Classic █ █ NWOBHM sound. I sincerely desire for them to █ █ rediscover their roots, and to realize that there █ █ are excellent bands like SATAN and RAVEN who █ █ continue to honor their past, while creating █ █ awesome Metal music in the present. Brothers, █ █ together we are strong. █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ "Back from Hell" (the song) is lyrically about █ █ Jack The Ripper. He used to sign his letters "From █ █ Hell". █ █ "Buried Alive" is a re-recorded version of the █ █ song from Blitzkrieg's debut 7". █ █ "V" is lyrically inspired by Alan Moore's graphic █ █ novel "V for Vendetta". █ █ "Return to the Village" is lyrically inspired by █ █ the british TV series "The Prisoner". █ █ "Call for the Priest" is a tribute to Judas █ █ Priest, the lyrics consist entirely of Judas █ █ Priest song and album titles. █ █ "Sleepy Hollow" is lyrically inspired by the █ █ legend of the headless horseman that gave birth to █ █ a movie, a TV series and numerous other stories. █ █ "We Have Assumed Control" is the last line in █ █ Rush's "2112" song. █ ▓ ▓ ▒ ▒ ░ 1. Jack's Back 1:31 ░ ░ 2. Back from Hell 4:35 ░ ░ 3. Buried Alive 3:19 ░ ░ 4. Complicated Issue 4:57 ░ ░ 5. V 6:44 ░ ░ 6. Return to the Village 4:10 ░ ░ 7. Sahara 5:25 ░ ░ 8. 4U 2:59 ░ ░ 9. One Last Time 5:09 ░ ░ 10. Call for the Priest 5:21 ░ ░ 11. Sleepy Hollow 5:45 ░ ░ 12. S & D (Metallica cover) 6:48 ░ ░ 13. We Have Assumed Control 4:08 ░ ░ 14. My Life is My Own (Live in the Studio) 4:44 ░ ░ (Bonus Track) ░ ░ 15. Escape From The Village (Live in the 4:32 ░ ░ Studio) (Bonus Track) ░ ░ 16. Call For The Priest (Alternate Mix) 5:21 ░ ░ (Bonus Track) ░ ░ 75:28 ░ ░ ▒ ▒ ▓ █ ░ ▓ ░ ■ █▄ ░ ██ ▀█▄░ ▄▄▄▄▄ ▓ ░ ▄▄▄▄▄ ░▄██░ ░ ▀████▓█▄▄█████████▓░ ███ ███▓░ █████████▄▄██████▀ ▓ ▓▀▓ ▒███████▀▀ ▀████████▒ ░████████▀ ▀▀███████░▓▀▓ ■ ░ ▄█░█▀▀▄████▄▓ ▀█▀ █▓░ ▒▓█ ▀█▀ ▄████▄ ▀███▄░ ▄█▀░ ░███▀▀▀███▄ ▀█▒ ██▓ ██ ▓█▀ ▄███▀▀▀███░ ▀█░ █▀ ▓██▓ ▄███ ▀█▓ ████ ▒█▀ ▓███▄ ▓██▓ ▀█▓ █▀ ▓██░ ▒██████▓ ▀█ █▓ █▀ ▓██████▒ ░██▓ ▀█ ▒ ▄██ ░███ ▓███▓ ▀░██░▀ ▓███░ ███ ██▄ ▒ ░█▀ ███ ▄▀ ███▄ ▓████▒ ▄███▀▄ ███ ▀█░ ▓█▀ ▄██▄█▀ ░ ██████████████ ▀█▄ ██▄ ▀█▓ █▀ ████▀█▄▓░▄█ ▀██████▀ █▄▓░▄█▀█▄██ ▀█▓ ░ ▄ ██▀ ▀████▀ ▀█▓▀██ ▀████▀ ▀███ ▄ ▒ █░█▓ ██░ █░ █ ░██ ▀██▒█ ███░ ▒█░ ▄ ▓ ▒ ░█▒ ▓███ ░ ▓██ ░ ██▓ ██░ ░██ █▒ ░ ░█ ▀█ █▀ ▓ ░ ░