12 Epic songs for 12 legendary knights, one for every zodiac's sign! This time, Trick or Treat were looking for something new and different, something that they have never done before: a concept-album freely inspired by the ‘Saint Seya’ anime, and more precisely The Legend of the 12 Gold Saints of the Zodiac saga. Each song is a monographic work that delves into the personality of the knights and the compelling plot that binds all the characters to the goddess Athena.
On their long-awaited sixth studio album the happy metal crusaders have once again managed to forge an epic and entertaining sonic tale, enriched by majestic orchestrations, refined arrangements and catchy refrains. Saint Seya was created in 1985 by Masami Kurumada. Yup this project is no joke! As a kid I loved and watched every episode on the french televsion. Many years later I bought the DVD's and was able to listen to the original voices. Now my kids are also fans of it. So imagine how I reacted when I got a mail from the record company sending me this cool concept! I must say it's amazing and funny!
They start with Ave Athena: a very opera-minded opening. It's filled with pathos and starting the story of those who will have to pass the 12 houses of the zodiac (guarded by knights with a golden armour) to save the life of Athena. In the anime Athena got hit by an arrow. With every passing hour the arrow goes deeper into her heart. She's supposed to die after 12 hours. Some good fighters stand next to her and have to get to the grand Pope (who turned into an evil person). The fighters are: The Pegasus, The Dragon, The Cygnus, Andromeda & The Phoenix.
ARIES Stardust Revolution: it's the first house and the guy who is protecting it is a good guy who will make their armour stronger and give them some advice on how to proceed to survive the next 11 houses. The music sounds like speeded up power metal (with raffling drums and clean vocals). The vibe is pretty positive and hopeful, but also explores a bit more the story. The synth sounds a bit dated but maybe they did it as the manga started in the 80's. What I also hear is that it's epic, filled with pathos and ending with a big boom!
TAURUS Great Horn: Imagine a big guy with powerful attacks, like a raging bull! In the anime the guy ends up to be a nice guy, just testing the people he faces and letting them go once they showed him they are good fighters. The music has some symphonic metal in it, with raging drums.
GEMINI Another Dimension: it's a duet and that is totally logical as Gemini are in fact 2 people (and yes the Pope is one of them). The music rages and the two guys who are singing do it in a great way! The guitars are great, just as the bombing drums! The song is well balanced and keeps the tension high.
CANCER Underworld Wave: is one of the darkest passages and very creepy as we visit the house of the doomed and the dead! The music blends in with the story. At some point I even recognize some of the original music. To me it's clear that each track is indeed trying to impersonate every house and its keeper as good as possible! This one is more into dark metal with a very spooky feel. The more I listen to this one, the more I can see the original anime getting a more lively version. Wow! Great work!
VIRGO Tenbu Horin: another epic and mystical fight comes with this house. The keeper of this house lives close to the gods and is a very intelligent guy. He ended up fighting against a phoenix: deprivating him from all his senses. It's an epic and very painful fight: very bloody too! I like the music and it comes close to the sound of Manowar (and yes I'm a huge fan). The choir, the highly pitched vocals and the piano: they all give the song what it needs. Well done!
LIBRA One Hundred Dragons Force: The keeper used to be the master of the Dragon knight and thus supports the knights who want to safe Athena. There is a snippet of a certain Japanese sound in it, to illustrate the story. The music is really catchy and sweeter then all the other songs.
SCORPIO Scarlet Needle: is a poisonous story with a deadly angle. The keeper of this house has a good side, but he has to be sure that he does the right thing and wants to test the knights who are entering his house. It's a fierce battle and thus rendered in the music. It's dark and dangerous, with questions marks. I like what they did with the music versus the story.
SAGITTARIUS Golden Arrow: Like I wrote before it's a good one, but he died in the past to save Anthena's life when she was still a baby. Now the empty armour is lent to Pegasus who can use it to safe Athena's life. The music is almost a ballad, but the story is a sad story (check the first sentence of this part). The pathos comes out again, mixed with some powerplay.
CAPRICORN Excalibur: The sword is a dangerous weapon and can split everything. The guy who is wielding it is not giving in and thinks he's fighting on the right side of history. Thanks to the Dragon he sees the truth just before he dies and wishes them good luck with the rest of their quest! The music is hard hitting, it has a clear heroic feel and hammering drums. You can feel the tension and hear the hard hitting fighters who both think they are doing the right thing. I even hear some symphonics in the background.
AQUARIUS Diamond Dust: This epic fight to death between a master and the pupil of his own pupil is heroic and only the death of one of them will end it. The music is crystal clear and melodic with a powerful chorus. This one could have been performed by Manowar too!
PISCES Bloody Rose: Is presented as a ballad whilt the real story is filled with bloodshed: killing people with roses! One of them even sucks out all the blood of your body and yet we get a ballad. For me its's a bit weird. It reminds me a bit of this other song about roses sung by Poison: Every Rose Has It's Torn. I also hear some Bon Jovi influences (not talking about Bed of Roses). This time the synth sounds well, just as the bass.
