The wolves want your blood!

Ever since the high-profile wheel 'Bible Of The Beast' include POWERWOLF for me among the brightest stars on the European Power Metal Heaven. According impatient and extremely excited, I naturally expected the new album - finally promised the pre-release title 'Sanctified With Dynamite "and the video for' We Drink Your Blood 'renewed feat of Saarland wolf pack.
Time on July 29, the postman brought then the week long-awaited package with the EMP-exclusive Limited Edition of 'Blood Of The Saints'. The (for money) quite sizable POWERWOLF wall clock adorns since the kitchen and the very stylish, visually and sensually very appealing Mediabook enriches the presentation shelf is a real gem.

So far so good, but what about in the field of music? With the predecessor 'Bible Of The Beast' the wolves had the bar finally laid damn high. Can the new album maintain this level of quality, or even top that? Two things also came to light already during the first run of the silver screen: on the one hand a whole corner is 'Blood Of The Saints' failed straighter than its predecessor. Of course, the new pieces are still created quite bombastic, but the almost operatic-classical pomp that prevailed on 'Bible Of The Beast' is, most of the given way again more coming into the foreground metallic elements. Secondly, I can not help while listening to the new tracks feel that POWERWOLF have already set this time an extremely large attention to the Live capability while writing the songs. Just about every piece includes sections that have been almost written to interact with the fans at the concert.

Furthermore, 'Blood Of The Saints' catchiness hardly be surpassed. The songs will stick directly into the ear canals, which could give the impression now and then, some pieces are 'too easy' knit in their structure. This feeling is in my opinion, however, more than offset by the excellent arrangements, the quality of the musicians and the excellent vocals of Atilla (who has greatly increased compared to its predecessor, especially in terms of vocal diversity again). The songs just sit, act as a unified whole. If you listen to the album in one piece, as presented in the brief three-quarters of an hour of running time a homogeneous unit that is harmonious and above all lots of listening (and sing-along) offers fun.

And the wolves remain absolutely faithful on the current album, without getting boring. Gaudy Melodic Power Metal meets the famous lyrical concept about werewolves, horror and religious themes, as always garnished with a wink, with a lot of (black) humor and a healthy dose of irony. In addition to the musical qualities, is for me just this 'not-to-Self bierenst and clichés and conventions-on-the-mickey-take' one of the greatest strengths of POWERWOLF.

Here the assessment of the tracks in detail:

1. Opening: Agnus Dei
Dark-classic introduction with much pathos, a church organ-threatening and evil spoken words. Appealing Introduction, makes the mood for the album. 8/10

2. Sanctified With Dynamite
... Satani, Satani ... What a furious start! POWERWOLF make from the outset no prisoners and popping the listener a first-class opener around the ears, which already contains all the trademarks of the band in maximum quality. An extremely catchy rousing melody, a drum cannonade for brain Wegschädeln, a sing-along chorus at its finest. 'Sanctified With Dynamite' is the future live classic - top score! 10/10

3. We Drink Your Blood
And here it is, the new band anthem of wolves (well, for me at least, the piece divides this position with 'Catholic in the Morning' Satanist At Night '). Preliminary already released an official video, is' We Drink Your Blood "a midtempo Stampfer of a lifetime, who definitely is among the best five POWERWOLF songs ever. One can not help but this Groove violently to strain the neck muscles and sing the chorus loudly. In addition to the opener, another song on stage will be to Evergreen. 'We Drink Your Blood' is perfect for Standing Together and Fists In The Air Rising. Metal heart, what more do you want ?! 10/10

4. Murder at Midnight
With each pass to 'Murder at Midnight' developed more to one of my absolute favorites on 'Blood Of The Saints'. After the atmospheric introduction is a decent speed boost, driving the eerily beautiful interpretation of Jack The Ripper theme ahead really well. In addition to the catchy melody and the superficial guitars lives 'Murder at Midnight' especially of Atillas variable vocal performance. Of course, here must the built already in the studio recording live Mitklatsch-and-the-fans-for-yourself-singing-Part Live Wallpaper not missing. 10/10

5. All We Need Is Blood
Church organ has Accompanied 'All We Need Is Blood' almost Schunkel quality, rofl! Reminds me a little of the Genghis Khan deposit 'Were wolf Of Armenia' on the previous album. However, the track also has plenty of power and those same rhythm, where you have to '
As with the gone ahead songs it falls just extremely difficult to escape the groove - the feet move by themselves in time, and also the head nods automatically: Blood-Blood-Blood! Short-crisp Party Metal at its best. 9/10

6. Dead Boys Do not Cry
In a review of the album, one reviewer writes that 'Dead Boys Do not Cry' has a horrible chorus, in which he must constantly think of The Cure. Well, exactly this allusion to the massive hit 'Boys Do not Cry' by Robert & Co is intended for sure I could in any case I already reading the title song, a smile not resist. Lyrically an amusing werewolf story, presents 'Dead Boys Do not Cry' musically fetzige Speed ​​grenade that goes into the ear immediately and firmly bites. 9/10

7. Son Of A Wolf
Again a true midtempo steamroller before the Lord! Hallelujah! Suitable sing from beginning to end is 'Son Of A Wolf' my personal feel-good track on 'Blood Of The Saints'. Amen. 10/10

8. Night Of The Were Wolf
And goes on the party! 'Night Of The Were Wolf' is no-frills heavy metal and comes wonderfully oldschoolig therefore. A firecracker that is reminiscent of the good old times and shows that even POWERWOLF ultimately are nothing but PURE FUCKING METAL! Horns Up! 10/10

9. Phantom Of The Funeral
Not at all bad, 'Phantom Of The Funeral' for me the weakest song of their latest album, if you then at all possible to speak of weak. But track seems to me just a little uninspired. HOWEVER, a good amount of speed and Groove lift this piece far above the average. 8.5 / 10

10. The, The, Crucified
Brevity is the soul of wit - that must be taken for the next piece of quiet literally. Here the 'Blood Of The Saints'- comes live hymn number three! Call me Simplicissimus, but 'The, The, Crucified' rocking the booth as hell! Because quilts old Lucifer and the Archangel Gabriel staring stupid! 10 French fries forks for this genius of simplicity! 10/10

11. Ira Sancti (When The Saints Are Going Wild)
The conclusion of the album together with 'Ira Sancti' the hitherto longest track 'in the band's history of wolves, which, however, by the fact that from a term of four and a half minutes hears an integrated Outro ultimately, again comedown. So be it, the last song needs a few more passes to ignite properly, but turns out to be as bombastic bouncer who deserves only because of the pun 'When The Saints are going wild, THEN the saints are going wild' his points , 9/10

Production
Crystal-clear, rich metal sound blasts on 'Blood Of The Saints' out of the speakers. Since there nix rumzukritteln! 10/10

Artwork and Packaging
The new POWERWOLF album comes in a super stylish, harmonious and extremely appealing Media Book, which leaves a very high-quality impression. From the Cover Design of the layout to the photos is really everything here. Although the POWERWOLF Clock from the Limited Edition comes from China, is made of plastic and does not have a Swiss precision movement, white for the extra cost of about 7 but still to please and is sure one or the other Wolfshöhle beautify proper style. 9/10

Bonus CD: THE SYMPHONY SACRILEGE
The Media In the Book contained Bonus CD 'The Sacrilege Symphony' offers five times POWERWOLF in purely classical robe. 'Rise Your Fist, Evangelist', 'In Blood We Trust', 'Sanctified With Dynamite', 'Ira Sancti' and 'Moscow After Dark' orchestral were reinterpreted by the wolves and Dominic G. Jousten, a session that is absolutely can be heard and provides a real added value to the standard edition of the album.

Conclusion
An album with full catchy and full live performance, coupled with all doubts raised technical and vocal quality that loosely reached the high benchmark of the brilliant predecessor 'Bible Of The Beast' and even a bit further pushes upward, you must first bring one about. That 'Blood Of The Saints' here and there passages which are found the POWERWOLF fan known somehow, in my view, is mainly due to the already on the previous disks available catchiness and the' Hit' potential of the songs of wolves. I think in any case that POWERWOLF is by no means only quote on their current album itself. On the contrary, the 'Bible' bombast enters somewhat into the background, giving the metal this time more space. Add to this the amazing development of Atillas singing what a vocal variety and brilliance has the consequence that one has as yet heard on any POWERWOLF album. The four boys plow her field with an immense amount of passion and enthusiasm and spray once more a lot of humor when they take religious themes and Satanism to poke fun and playing with striking horror clichés. This results in the unique mix that POWERWOLF apart from other bands and 'Blood Of The Saints' for me now to Power Metal album of the year can be.

9.5 / 10 Rating