Witch Meadow - Down Eternity's Hall
Tracks:
Time Will Tell
Bitter Trials
Kiss Of Beltaine
It Can't Be Me
Hypocrite
Do You Want To Live Forever
Soldier Of Fortune
The Gift
Label: Black Cat Productions
Year: 1996
Producers: Witch Meadow
Total Time: 32:26 m:s
With the exception of Metallica (and why I bought Load & then Re-load, I still can't figure out), it has been a long time since I bought an album that I'd call Heavy Metal. It is strange then that I find myself reviewing not one, but two Heavy Metal albums this month. First up are Witch Meadow who describe themselves as "a classic 80's style metal band" and who performs metal in the tradition of Iron Maiden, Skid Row, Savatage, Saxon and Manowar.
I had a quick listen to a couple of the samples at their web site and I did warn them beforehand that a 80's style metal band with a high pitched vocalist were going to have their work cut out impressing me.
When describing their music I can't really better the band's own description given in the first paragraph. I think the Iron Maiden influence is to the fore. Which is a pity, as far as I am concerned. I'm sure that many people would nominate Dire Straits as the most boring band on the planet, but I think that dubious honour should be bestowed upon Iron Maiden. It then follows that Witch Meadow don't stand much of chance with me.
This is just another HM album by Maiden clones in my book (Sorry guys!). If you're approaching the material from a more Metal-orientated standpoint then things could well be very different, but for Melodic Rock fans there isn't much of interest. Bitter Trials is the best track and sounds a like UFO's Rock Bottom.
Rating: 5
Decide for yourself by visiting their web site http://www.atmnet.net/~riddler/alchemy/witch_meadow/
