REVIEW: VALHALLA - BEYOND THE UNDERWORLD

 

VALHALLA - BEYOND THE UNDERWORLD (Laute Records, 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded in Power Jevosound Turbo 2000 3D Plus Studios - Sept.99-Abr.2000.

Recorde, produced and mixed by Valhalla.

Artwork: Iñigo Martínez.

Track list: 1- Aliens, 2-Rohirrim, 3- Eclipse, 4- Shadow of the King (Part I), 5- Medieval Feast, 6- Guardians of Metal (Re-Edited), 7- Metalopolis (orc. Version)

It is quite funny to have two different bands with the same name in the same issue and so different in musical style…this is Valhalla from Spain and their style is progressive power/heavy metal with abundance of keyboards and in the vein of bands like Rhapsody (with less barroquism) , Helloween or Stratovarius. Here we have two excellent guitarists, Mikel Martinez and Ignacio Garamendi who are the basis of the band, and great musicians on the bass, keyboards (there are excellent passages of unison between guitar and keyboards) and drums. All the elements that you like or hate of this style are here: speed with drumming galloping, clean vocals, melodies, etc. etc. I would like them to get a little bit away from their influences and I think they are going to achieve this through time. I recommend this album to fans of the style. Favorite tracks: "Rohirrim", "Shadow of the King" and "Metalopolis". Contact: valhalla@guardiansofmetal.com