Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 09:00 PM by Giorgos Tsekas
Genre: Heavy Metal
Country: Germany
Label: Dying Victims Productions
Year: 2022
We don’t have to repeat ourselves but damn you got to pay attention to Dying Victims Productions’ new releases more than you expected for sure, as we have already mentioned several times before.
Hailing from Leipzig, Germany’s Tension (not to be confused with hailing from US Power/Speed/Thrash Metal Tension that released the cult classic “Breaking Point” in 1987 via Torrid Records) was founded in 2015 by vocalist Maik H. and guitarist Phil. M. while the band’s line-up was filled by ex-members of Toxic Beast and Germany’s Prowler.
I can only name their influences (I’m certainly will below) and you will get exactly how Tension sound. But there’s so much quality on their compositions that you would be rather boring as fuck…I mean you rather misjudge them by calling them just a bunch of nostalgic warriors.
Tension are highly influenced by the First Wave of Swedish Heavy Metal (F.W.O.S.W.H.M.), taking the best out of Gotham City, Heavy Load, Jackwave, Parasite, Jonah Quizz, Depzon, and Stitch just to name a few and certainly N.W.O.B..H.M. heroes Satan, Wolf (ex-Black Axe) and Ritual. As every new Heavy Metal band that is marked effect by traditional metal in and respects itself they have also an impact beyond the iron curtain and bands like Aria, Ossian and Pokolgép. But enough talking about others.
Following the self-titled debut EP from Dying Victims Productions in 2017 Tension release “Decay” knowing that there’s no room for mistakes as the momentum and all odds are on their side.
“Decay” is full of harmonic leads and dark yet sizzling solos, excellent ideas as this house is built on is fist-pumping anthems adequately traditional production values and great guitar and bass tone. Melodic and sentimental, vintage sounding their debut full length comes from the bravest (and wet dreams) of every Heavy Metal fanatic of 80’s, with its brilliant songs based on the emotional vocal lines that are absolutely addictive and fit like a glove to the dolefully guitars.
The cassette and CD versions of Decay features nine tracks, with the 2017’s self-titled EP added to the latter as bonus tracks. The vinyl version of the album will include eight tracks due to length, with the extra track saved for a split EP to be released later in 2022.
Highlights: “Open the Gates”, “Higher Power”, “Cosmic Gaze”, “Hellfight”, “Mistress” and “Earth Crisis”. No I must delete the last sentence. The whole album is a highlight.
Fans of Lethal Steel, Traveler and Lord Fist will adore them!
