On disc: White Skull

 
 Public Glory, Secret Agony
 
- Katja Henning -
 
 


 
 The Dark Age
 
- Volker Raabe -
 
 


 
 Under This Flag
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 

Under This Flag

(Dragonheart Records - 2012)



 
 

 

Many fans of White Skull have missed Federica De Boni when she left White Skull, but now she's back and Under This Flag is the first album after her return. They kick off with Hunted Down, a traditional heavy / power metal song with a great hook line. References to NWoBHM and neo-classical metal can be found at the opening track.



At songs like Bottled Mind guitarists Tony 'Mad' Fontó and Danilo Bar show their skills and build a melodic counterpart to Frederica's raspy vocals. At Red Devil Ms. De Boni demonstrates her flexibility and switches between clean and raspy vocals. Personally I prefer her clean vocals, coz her raspy ones sounds a bit forced... pressed. But I guess it's just a matter of taste. With the anthemic Lost Alone they present another riff-based rocker, again Frederica uses different vocal styles. Sometimes she is hissing which reminds me slightly of David DeFeis, another facet of her. After the fast Under This Flag they slow down for A.O.D. which is a beautiful power ballad, one more time Frederica shows her vocal range. Another heavy anthem is War After War, again ennobled by Tony 'Mad' Fontó and Danilo Bar's guitars, even if the tune will need a few spins, you'll soon sing along. At Nightmares they show their theatric side, a song with speed changes and different atmospheres. The closer Redemption is a fast, guitar-driven tune, not overly catchy...



Anyway, White Skull present an album which should please their long time fans as well as every metal head who likes traditional heavy metal or power metal, but don't expect some modern elements! Check out Under This Flag, if you like it traditional!

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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The Dark Age

(Frontiers - 2002)



 
 

 

Like I said before, this band could sound fucking great with a good singer instead of the girl. And that's what changed now with The Dark Age. I was a little puzzled when I heard the album opener The Dark Age first, coz that couldn't be a woman singing! White Skull have a new singer, the guy is called Gustavo 'Gaucho' Adrian Gabano and the result is pure power metal! Songs like Devil's Woman, Grand Inquisitor, The Edict and Torture will blow you away and remind me partly of the Canadian Eidolon. With the change of the singer the band is now able to make it to the premier league. Guys, now you are part of the huge power metal party! Just great!!!
 
 










Volker Raabe

(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)


  
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Public Glory, Secret Agony

(Breaker Records - 2000)



 
 

 

Hello! This is way better then the last album of White Skull - in my opinion at least! It's singer Frederica de Boni's raspy, melodic voice which makes the difference. Good songs, a powerful production and great guitar work! Lyrically Public Glory, Secret Agony is placed in Rome at the days of Caesar and Cleopatra - which the album is about. And who could do an about about ancient Rome better then the Italians?! They start off with the fast High Treason and then spin the story with The Roman Empire, In Caesar We Trust and Cleopatra. Musically they could top the predecessor Tales From The North.
 
 










Katja Henning

(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)


  
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