Axenstar – End Of All Hope
Album Review By Rainer Kerber
The small German label Ram It Down Records strikes again. Now they have signed the Swedish power metal band Axenstar. The band was founded in 1998 under the name Powerage and were initially a pure cover band. After several line-up changes took place in 2001the band was renamed to Axenstar. Shortly thereafter, they were able to get a label deal. The debut “Perpetual Twilight” was released in October 2002 on the Spanish label Arise Records. With this, the Swedes were also known worldwide. Up to 2014, another five albums followed. on various labels and in ever increasing time intervals. More than four years have passed since the last album. With “End Of All Hope” there is now another sign of life of the band.
And where Axenstar is on it is melodic Power Metal in it. This already shows the opener “Legions”. Reminds me something of the Finns of Stratovarius, but a little less playful. Straightforward and straight to the point. The interaction between the two guitarists is impressive. Even with “King Of Fools” the pace remains high. The Swedes are happily rocking forward. And “The Unholy” invites yo to bang your head with the rhythmic hooks. A rest point then sets “A Moment In Time”. Clean guitars accompany the outstanding vocals of Magnus Winterwild. The song just barely misses a genre-typical power ballad, especially thanks to the second, slightly faster half. But that’s what makes it as a real highlight. And then there are more Metal-cracker like “My Kingdom Come” or “Mistress Of Agony”. The crowning finale is “Of Pain And Misery”. Here hymnic melodies alternate with straight metal rhythms. The guitar solos are then the icing on the cake.
In a review of the predecessor “Where Dreams Are Forgotten” I’ve read the following. “The way to the Metal Olympus is wide open, latest with this album.” Listening to “End Of All Hope” I wonder why Axenstar have not arrived there yet. Where but influential bands of former days currently have little new to offer. This is classic melodic Power Metal. Outstanding guitar work and a singer, who is one of the best in Metal, characterize this album. And the Swedes do it all without keyboards, which makes the sound experience very good. The makers of Ram It Down once again proved their good fortune in selecting the bands.
AXENSTAR – Honor And Victory (official audio): https://youtu.be/tqWkykBMv_o
Lineup:
Magnus Winterwild – Vocals / Bass
Joakim Jonsson – Guitar
Jens Klovegård – Guitar
Hampus Fasth – Drums
Label: Ram It Down Records
Out: April 26th 2019
Playing time: 51:01
Track list:
- Legions
- King Of Fools
- The Unholy
- Honor And Victory
- A Moment In Time
- My Kingdom Come
- The Dark Age
- Mistress Of Agony
- Time Is No Healer
- Of Pain And Misery
Rating : 9/10
MHF Magazine/Rainer Kerber
