Review by Jack on February 29, 2004.

Human Fortress' debut record "Lord of Earth and Heavens Heir" was a solid step in the right direction for this relatively unknown power metal band. Combining slick riffing, almighty choirs and smart songwriting slapped together with a strong retro vibe, their debut record unsurprisingly received solid praise from critics and fans alike.

What "Lord of Earth and Heavens Heir" did for Human Fortress in 2001 was establish them as a legitimate heavy power act and a band to keep your finger on in the future. However, what "Lord of Earth and Heavens Heir" did not do for Human Fortress was create a unique enough identity to elevate them above all the other power metal acts trying to strike it lucky by slaying dragons and clashing swords. Fortunately, their latest record "Defenders of the Crown" has seen a steady improvement in musical prowess and Human Fortress' identity.

With "Defenders of the Crown" Human Fortress have taken a step forward in making a name for themselves in the power metal world. The songs are more effectively executed (in both musicianship and production), but more importantly the composition of "Defenders of the Crown" has taken on a broader scope in which will appeal to a larger fan base. Instead of the common mid-pace monotonous power metal bands that litter the globe, Human Fortress have provided ballads, galloping 'punch your through the air' tracks and lastly the trade mark epic songs that inspire courage and hope in mankind (tongue in cheek here).

Fantasy power metal with enough of a hard edge to not be considered too fairy, yet containing just the right amount of emotion to keep it from becoming 'just another album.' Well worth a look.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Review by Felix on June 1, 2021.

I have no idea why a band from the relatively extreme area of metal exactly plays a W.A.S.P. song. Aggravating the situation, Nocturnal Breed does not give the piece ("Ballcrusher") its own touch. Isn't that a little embarrassing? Normally I would say that this is equivalent to a creative declaration of bankruptcy. But our filthy friends from the fjords also blast 14 of their own pieces among the people on Tools Of The Trade. Therefore, one cannot speak of a lack of creativity.

Whereby, maybe I have to correct myself. 'Down By Law' is considered a song in its own right, but it's almost exactly like another thrash metal track. I guess some people know a band from the USA that lost the ability to create perfect albums in 1987. Shortly before that, however, they wrote the most famous thrasher of all time, something with "Angel" and "Death". 'Down By Law' copies the riff, tempo and pauses in the vocals and only takes its own turn in the chorus. Pretty cheeky, but what the hell. Nevertheless, Tools Of The Trade offers a lot of good and mostly own ideas. Unfortunately the musical material struggles with its technical realisation. Don’t expect a clear mix like that one of their latest album We Only Came For The Violence. Instead, Tools Of The Trade sounds mean and dirty, but also quite dull and nearly flat. That's no drama, but it does cost a few percentage points.

However, after a rather unspectacular start, the first peaks soon follow with 'Resistance Is Futile' and the vile title track. Lead singer S.A. Destroyer, who, according to the band's pictures, astonishingly wore a Corona protective mask already in 2000, nags at the guitars, which either play rapidly or create a somewhat morbid mood. Not every piece is convincing all along the line. 'Skeletor Of Sin', for example, remains colourless despite its high speed. Now, of course, the good advice can come again not to release 15 songs with 66 minutes playing time, but to leave out two or three tracks. If only one knew which ones! So let's take the album as it is, because even if not every track is a hit, none is a nuisance.

'Motörmouth', which does not pay a musical tribute to Lemmy (R.I.P.) and his institution, marks the last gem. Nocturnal Breed open the doors to their stinking niche of hell for the final time and drag the listener skilfully into ruin. Surely, Tools Of The Trade has never reached the status of a black thrash masterpiece and more than 20 years after its release, it is certainly too late to change this situation. Yet the record reflects the proper insidiousness of the hybrid style and holds a lot of good songs. Needless to say that fans of Aura Noir, Deathhammer or Inculter will enjoy this program.

Rating: 7.4 out of 10