Review by JD on November 8, 2012.

It seems as soon as you dive into the vast talent pool of metal, you see two very distinct sides come very clear. One side is the showcases the multitudes of talent that most any other style of music never begin to match, the other is less glamorous side of things - the side with the sound alikes that seem never to find their own voice in the metal and muddies the pool into a thick murkiness. German Technical Deathers Sophicide come cannonballing into this pool... which side will they be lumped on to.

Originally started as just a one man project out of Hesse, Sophicide has doubled in size and cranks out some very barbarous Technical Death Metal splattered with this almost artistic flair that is refreshing as it is deadly explosive. This two come at you sort with all the fire of Bloodbath, but with some old school Death and even Trivium as well. They put that all into one, stirred and you have a Death Metal Vortex of insane razor sharp riffing, battering drum blasts which is all piloted with talent that is so high.

With songs like the title track or 'Freedom Of Mind', the key is insane speed with brutal heaviness wrapped up in the almost Malmsteen-going-Death vibe. It makes every song of Sophicide stand out and make itself known, as it pounds your brain into mush. With all of this talent driving this beast - the engine is so blatantly honest and brutal metal at its finest.

A few changes with the recording process and the usual maturing of an artist, and this would be a ten across the board. As it stands now, this still is one of those surprising releases that really has made me one very happy headbanger - and it will serve the metal masses as well. Hail to all!

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9.5
Production: 7
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 8.7 out of 10

Review by Jack on June 17, 2003.

Steel Attack (I can already hear the resounding groans) has toiled away as an entity since 1997, garnering some recognition and prestige through their flaunting power displays. This year, Arise Records sees Steel Attack spring forth into action with "Predator of the Empire."

I thought we might get into the more negative aspects of Steel Attack, so that folks will have a good chance of remembering the more positive aspects that "Predator of the Empire" can offer them. While displaying addictive songs with equally catchy chorus sections, Steel Attack has unfortunately not got the consistency spot on in "Predator of the Empire" and the record does peter out towards the conclusion, leaving you feeling slightly numb and a tad regretful of seeing the album out to the end.

However, while those unfortunate points will weigh on a listener's mind, I do have to praise these guys for putting together one very commendable disc. "Predator of the Empire" is chock full of fist-pumping and spandex-craving guitar licks, accompanied by equally rolling grand choruses from main-man Dick, who really knows how to get 'high' along with the best of them. You will be sure to question when your next girlfriend will come along after bobbing along to "Predator of the Empire."

Memorable. These songs will stick in your mind, like a shit-starved fly sticks to a ten-day-old turd. Such is the infectious quality of them. Sure, the topics are absolute nonsense (arguably, one of the redeeming factors of power metal), but when '...Steal away our souls, steal away our mind, leaving nothing, but emptiness behind...' from 'Cursed Land' kicks in you'll be left feeling like a right goose when your mother catches you spilling forth utter gibberish from the bathroom.

Bottom Line: There is power within all of us, you just need the right ticket to unlock the fury. "Predator of the Empire" is so close to being one of those power records that unlocks your bridled primal instincts to get down and dirty. This one's a keeper.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7.5
Atmosphere: 6
Production: 8
Originality: 6
Overall: 7

Rating: 6.9 out of 10