Aska--Nine Tongues (1997/EMA)
Rating--7.9
Aska is a band that covers several different sound genres of metal, but they are definitely at their peak when tooling in the power
metal realm--which they do for a little over half of this album. Very sharp and precise guitar playing (and accompanying distortion),
and vocals that show strong range as well--sometimes in the thick-chested, Tate mold. At its peak, this album
reminds of Iron Maiden and heavy Dokken, with a ripping
'90s feel.
"The Stalker" opens up in sharp and rapid fashion, and the Maiden gallop of "The Question" is strong as well.
The steady pulse style of "Blood of the Wolf" and "The Dream" seem to fit the band best overall; a full album of cuts like this
and you could bump the rating up by a point or more---Excellent work.
"Leprosy" shows the band's versatility, as they are
able to churn out a raunch n' riff tune in the AC/DC/Saxon vein as well.
This is the group's third disc; if they can settle on a style that fully exploits their talents, I wouldn't be at all suprised to see them
get picked up by one of the newer wave metal labels...
TRACK LIST: The Stalker/Leprosy/The Question/Little Sister/Blood of the Wolf/Killashandra/Captain Crunch/Liquid Courage/
Nightmare/The Dream
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