Review by JD on June 30, 2009.

Coming out of Windsor, Ontario, Canada comes a band that blows me away... Final Stage seem to come out of left field for me, because I try and keep up with the Canadian metal scene. My smiling may lead you to what I need to say about them.

Combining the devastatingly heavy yet great sensibility of Classic Metal with the massive bare-chested attitudes of Power Metal with a nice dosage of Thrash for flavouring... this young Canadian trio delivers an album that for me... is a shining light in my homeland’s metal scene and has become in my own mind a true introduction for the movement called the New Wave of Traditional Metal.(NWOTM).

One listen to this disk from the Judas Priest sort of feeling ‘Murder On Contract’ to the mid tempo kill-punch of ‘Dreams Of Madness’ makes my ears smoke. It was the blasphemous diatribe of ‘Infidel’(song banned Dubia) that cinched it for me.

Final Stage stands out as being pure and completely unrepentant classic metal at it’s finest.... never once do they leave you feeling out of date while doing it. Take it from a thrasher that is actually from the old school literally... this is great! I hope that someone out there will sign this band right on the spot, and unleash their sound for the leather and chain wearing world to hear.

Truth be told... If I had the money, I would do it in a heartbeat. These guys are a metalheads dream... enough said!

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8.5
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 7.5
Originality: 7.5
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 8.2 out of 10