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THE ARCHIVES
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Morrigan's Pit has closed down as of November 2006. The site and its articles will stay online as an archive until September at least, but probably longer.
The Archives
2002-2006
» CD REVIEWS
» INTERVIEWS
» LIVE REVIEWS
» SPECIALS
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ATTIKA
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Attika
2003
Cult Metal Classics
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1. Blindman's Run
2. Kings In Hell
3. Bad City
4. The Motherlode
5. Racing The Dawn
6. Glory Bound
7. Exiled
8. When Cowards Die
9. The Motherlode (Bonus Track)
10. Bad City (Bonus Track)
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In 1988 the Florida based band Attika released their self-titled debut album on cassette on Prison Records. Five years later it was followed by "When Heroes Fall" released by Massacre. Now, in 2003, a quarter of a century after the debut first came out, the Greek metalheads of Cult Metal Classics are releasing it remastered on CD and vinyl, including two bonustracks (I think original versions of two songs). The LP is limited to 500 copies only. Somehow I'm not crazy about the new mix. Although the remastered songs sound much heavier, it somehow seems to make the sound too full. Don't know if I'm making sense here, but I don't know how else to describe it. The two bonustracks seem to be two unmastered versions and it's much easier on the ears, it fits the style more as well.
I constantly have to remind myself that this is a US metal band, because it sounds more NWOBHM. I guess it's a mix of styles from that era: US metal in the vein of early Jag Panzer, European metal in the vein of the Swedish Torch or the abovementioned British bands (not the speedy or thrashy ones though) and early Maiden. Even though good metal is timeless, this release will probably not rock everybody's world, but mostly the ones of fanatic 80's fans. The songs itself are pretty good, with some great riffs ("The Motherlode") and choruses ("Bad City") that are never cheesy but stick in your head anyway. Drums and bass are interesting, riffs are cool, but the solos of Joe Longobardi are way too chaotic for my taste. Robert Vanwar's clean vocals are maybe not of everybody's liking, but they are perfect for these songs - he reminds me of Dan Dark of the Swedish band Torch (remember them? aaaaahhhh!). Highlights are "Bad City", "The Motherlode" and the instrumental "Exiled" with its beautiful acoustic intro (and outro). If the vocals were better on "When Cowards Die" I'd name that one too, because of the balladesque start and it builds up to a great song musically.
submitted by Marlies 10.10.2003
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rating 1 - 5 Morrigans
5 = awesome, 4 = good, 3 = average, 2 = keep practising, 1 = sell your gear!
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