Despite getting older with the day Doro (a career of 40 years) keeps on rocking the hard way and launches album after album, keeps on spitting fire during gigs, … it seems like she has eternal energy and will never fade away! Let’s rock this one together!
Children Of The Dawn has powerful male backings that scream like as if it was berserk time! Doro’s voice sounds like raw and a bit out smoked. The chorus is strong and typical Doro style! The guitar play is excellent (like always with Doro).
Fire In The Sky explodes from the start, has a high tempo and promises to be a hit on stage! Raise your horns for this one!
Living After Midnight mixes rock with disco, gets some extra male vocals (yup from Judas Priest singer Rob Halford and yes it’s indeed a Judas Priest). I feel this one might get a great sing along momentum once performed on stage!
All For You builds up slowly but once it’s on full throttle the song explodes and rocks your socks off! The cat power is here to stay!
Lean Mean Rock Machine is calling up the love for fast motors on 2 wheels.
I Will Prevail starts almost like Ace of Spades but goes pretty fast it’s own rocking way. I can hear Doro giving it all and singing it from the deepest part of her heart.
Bond Unending gets Doro to sing in a clean and softer way, whilst she gets a male counterpart gets performed by Sammy Amara (BROILERS). The song gets a bit mellow, like a false rock ballad.
Time For Justice is a well fuelled song where I hear the typical Doro sound. I’m sure it will be a banger once performed on stage and it’s really a strong song that might become a single (this sentence is written on 2/10).
Fels in der Brandung gets some strings, a classic symphonic metal approach and an epic ballad touch. The passage sin German give it a special touch. The bluesy guitar in between sounds cool.
Love Breaks Chains sounds catchy, a bit mellow but ready to be performed on stage.
Drive Me Wild wants to rock it wild and all night. I miss a bit of powerplay in the sound, but the song has for sure the potential to break through during a gig.
Rise has a really speeded up tempo, a bit of pathos and a good punch line.
Best In Me is some kind of power ballad and also a love declaration.
Heavenly Creatures makes me wander who these heavenly creatures are. I like the melancholy in Doro’s voice.
Total Eclipse Of The Heart is a cover from Bonnie Tyler and has been covered many times (also by metal artists). Doro’s raw voice sounds perfect for this one. She kept the pathos and kept the male vocals too (Rob Halford). I hear a tiny bit of differences (guitar play, piano, male vocals are not as good as in the original). It’s hard to judge this one, but I think Exit Eden still performed the best cover version ever! This also ends the regular album!
Bonus Tracks
Intro: Warlocks And Witches gets an a cappella version, with just the sound of thunder in the background.
Horns Up High might be inspired by her metal friends from Amon Amarth. I’m sure this one will get a lot of positive vibes during a gig and people will raise their horns! The production could have been a bit more (bombastic).
True Metal Maniacs is a catchy sing along track with a strong chorus. I hear a lot of potential in this song and don’t get why it’s not on the regular album.
Heart In Pain is not bad, has a good guitar sound but the male part of the vocals could have been worked out a bit better. I would love to get a bit more pathos into this song.
The Four Horseman has fired up guitar play and deserved to be more worked out and get a spot on the regular album. It is clear the musicians had the time of their life recording this one!
After 40 years it’s getting harder and harder to keep it fresh, new and vivid but I can confirm Doro did her best although reviewing this album felt like a real task and thus lesser a pleasure to review it. I caught some really great tracks (also in the bonus section). I’m sure the fans will be delighted and I hope I wasn’t to hard in certain phrases. As some already know: I write what pops up and try to be straight and honest. Keep up the good work!
