Review by ChadL on October 25, 2002.

Sweden's Diabolical have been floating around in the metal underground, slowly making a name for themselves since the mid 90's. 2001's "Synergy" was a decent effort, but didn't do much to warrant repeated listens. Their new album "A Thousand Deaths" is an entirely different beast altogether, and should get this band the respect of the metal community they now deserve.

First things first, Diabolical's music is nothing too original, as they have both boots firmly planted in the Swedish Death/Thrash genre, with vocals more akin to black metal (think Thomas Lindberg circa 'With Fear I Kiss The Burning Darkness' with a little more power and you’ll have an idea). What sets them apart however, is the tremendous energy and seamless song writing on "A Thousand Deaths". Each song on here is a fucking killer, and you can really feel that they are pouring their hearts into each and every note.

After a mandatory intro ‘A Thousand Deaths’, ‘Children of the Mushroom Cloud’ blasts through the speakers to pound utter metal ecstasy into you bleeding brain. The song is tight and well assembled, full of intricacies that reveal themselves over repeated listens. If this song doesn't get you headbanging and your heart pumping, than you don't like metal. The following track ‘God Of The Underworld’ is quite as brutal, but showcases some amazing melody along with a tighter than hell rhythm section that never lets up. It's rather pointless to do a track by track review of this album because each is track is amazing, and can stand on it's own, with a distinct identity, so it never gets boring or repetitive. Although, if I had to pick some highlights, they would be the aforementioned ‘Children of the Mushroom Cloud’, the masterful ‘Until The Day Arrives’ and the epic ‘An Opposite Law’.

Production-wise, this album is flawless. Each instrument is clearly audible, the drums in particular are very powerful, with a great snare sound. The production also maintains a grittiness that gives the material a great "take no shit" atmosphere.

As far as the members’ musicianship is concerned, each member of the band is a master of their instruments. Lead guitarist H. Carlsson is a shredder if there ever was one, and his energetic solos all over the album make me want to hang up my guitar in shame. Carlsson and his partner have laid down some of the most infectious riffs I’ve heard in a while. The drums are powerful and uncompromising, with an endless array of fills and rhythms that never get boring. Vocalist Magnus Ödling has a voice that demands attention; it's vicious, powerful and clearly audible through the entire album, and he mixes up his delivery to keep things from ever getting monotonous. The band never sacrifices melody for aggression, and vice versa... Diabolical does an excellent job of balancing the two. The beauty of Diabolical is that they take familiar metal concepts and ideas and play them with such flawless songwriting and conviction that it sounds fresh... even to my jaded ears. The result is a crushing album of memorable songs that no should be heard by every metal fan.

Bottom Line: While not blazingly original, Diabolical with "A Thousand Deaths" have created a solid album that will keep you hooked all the way through that no death/thrash fan should miss!! Highly recommended.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Originality: 7
Musicianship: 10
Production: 10
Atmosphere: 10
Overall: 9

Rating: 9.2 out of 10

Review by JD on December 28, 2012.

We Are Legend is a Power Metal band, coming from the home of Power Metal - Germany. Built out of ex- members of such amazing acts as Stormwitch, Goth act Coronatus and Abraxas, We Are Legend came together to build themselves a better Power Metal machine... and it seems that they have done so to a point.

With pulsating fire-breathing riffs and a wickedly generated sound that catches the ear of the listener while it confidently plows through your cranium with twenty full minutes of metal -We Are Legend seems to be serious. Power Metal mixed with some old school Thrash and a dabbing of Speed Metal and Classic Metal in spots - WAL seems to be a band out for metallic domination.

With four songs on here, you may think there is not much to offer... you’d be wrong. We Are Legend shows a wide spectrum of what they offer, and it seems there is more to this band that meets the eyes. There is riffs blasting every which way through the demo, yet the wild churning of the music is tempered by a few small piano intros that seem to not be out of place - and sets the stage for then metallic maelstrom to come. The songs are strong, but have a unfinished feel to it - as if the band had been rushed.

The four members of this act seem to be on the right path for their quest for metallic overlord status, but they are not there at the moment. If this sideproject stays together and naturally goes to the next level, they will be the band to beat. It is a good, strong album and no one can take it away from We Are Legend.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship:9
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 8
Originality: 8
Overall: 8

Rating: 8.2 out of 10