Review by Mohsen Fayyazi

Band: NOBLE BEAST

Album: Noble Beast
Release Date: 2014

Label: Tridroid Records

Track listing:
1. Iron-Clad Angels
2. Behold the Face of Your Enemy
3. Master of Depravity
4. The Dragon Reborn
5. We Burn
6. The Noble Beast
7. Peeling Back the Veil
8. Disintegrating Force
9. On Wings of Steel
10. Nothing to Repent

NOBLE BEAST is not yet a famous band, but an American power metal outfit who may surprise you with their metal, if you don’t know them yet. The band themselves claim that they have at least one song you will like, but I can tell you, that you will love more than one! They are going to release a mixed album, which includes elements from heavy metal to power metal and from thrash to melodic death metal. Their forthcoming album is self-titled and set to be released very soon, on March 22th 2014 via Tridroid Records.

“Noble Beast” has a stormy start with ‘Iron-Clad Angels,’ a pure melodic power metal song beginning with a fast guitar riff. After a few seconds you will be surprised to hear that the vocalist’s voice, who named himself  Sir Robert, is like the legendary BLIND GUARDIAN ‘s Hansi Kürsch and even a little similar to the mighty and amazing Christopher Lee. Sir Robert does not travel from high notes to lower ones suddenly, such as legendaries Bruce Dickinson or Andi Deris, but he impressed me with his style of singing, very powerful and melodic, exactly what true power metal needs.

Powerful, fast and melodic guitar riffs are the most recognised elements in the European power metal genre (AKA melodic power metal). NOBLE BEAST demonstrate good use of this element in their album. ‘The Dragon Reborn’ and ‘We Burn’ are good examples of this point. The other element from melodic power metal which is used in the ‘Noble Beast’ album as well, is fast drumming with double bass pedals. The band will surprise you, as they also used some elements of melodic death metal in this album. The ‘Disintegrating Force’ and ‘On Wings Of Steel’ tracks remind me of the same elements which are used by AMON AMARTH in their recent albums.

The album lacks a power ballad track and that is the only weak point. It’s not a tiny matter though, in my opinion this is the point which shows the difference between stars and super stars. All super power metallers know that they need to record a softer track and place it in the middle of their track list, because they know very well that the listeners need to refresh and prepare for the next fast and powerful song. It is like charging the bow for speedier shooting. HELLOWEEN, GAMMA RAY, ICED EARTH, STRATOVARIUS who are the masters of this genre use this method, even if they have no power ballad, they have tracks such as ‘Watching Over Me’ which give the fans the same feeling.

NOBLE BEAST‘s ‘Noble Beast’ is an epic album in power metal music which will give any fans of this genre the joy of powerful and fast guitar riffs and solos plus epic lyrics. It may encourage you do your next job in a greatly epic way!

Rating: 8/10