Axenstar – “The Inquisition”
Axenstar did not impress me the first time I heard them. The Inquisition sounded like typical power metal. Now I understand. I have been listening to this a whole lot and enjoying it more and more. Oh, this is power metal, alright, and it’s good. It’s pretty happy music, ear candy; it’s not the most original thing in the world, but I like it. The drumming is double-bass and speedy; the guitars rock; the solos rock. The bass? I don’t know, I hardly ever hear the bass in metal music. I like the singing: not too high, but melodic, not cheesy high screams. Axenstar plays the type of power metal that Sonata Arctica plays. Actually, I’m finding this album more enjoyable than “Reckoning Day,” Sonata’s latest, but I really like Sonata, too. Song number four, “Inside Your Mind,” is a hit (with me). The rest of the album is pretty contagious, too. Now I understand: very good.