Metal Crusade/RiseStar, 2007

I’ve never really heard of Italian band SpellBlast before, but the thing I know for sure about this band is the fact that they back in 2004 have released one demo and now this is their first full-length entitled Horns of Silence. There are nine strong songs on the album, songs that can best be described as bombastic folk power metal with elements of heavy and speed metal as well. In order to come closer to a true description I would compare them to the likes of Elvenking, Rhapsody of Fire, Falconer, Thy Majesty and other similar acts. At first I didn’t like the album so much I must admit, it sure needs to be played more than once before you really got into it, but once you’ve managed that it is just perfect. I like this kind of melo-metal and hard rock with elements of folk music, but it is strange to see/hear an Italian band performing exactly this kind of music. Take for instance the opening track “In the Name of Odin”; it sure sounds like fitting to one Norwegian or Danish band more than Italian. But, hell as long as it works for them, it is all fine with me. All of the tracks are quite catchy and it is another aspect that I like in their music. Of other better tracks I would emphasise “Glory of the Gem” and closing track, one much in power metal style, called “Knights of Darkness”. The production work is also fine, so is the cover artwork, so nothing really to complain out on these fields. Once again, it is not the most original piece of music ever recorded but it sure has some qualities and I can recommend it to any dark and lonely soul out there. www.spellblast.com or contact the label at www.metalcrusaderecords.com