Customer Reviews

House of Atreus Act 1

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is one of those CD's that leaves you thinking "How in the heck can a band make an album like this?" There are some great composers in heavy metal that get no recognition. David DeFeis is one of them. I remember reading a review in a Philly paper on Dream Theater's Scenes From A Memory that stated that nobody writes conceptial albums anymore. Well, to the ignorant U.S. Press, that would be the case. To us knowledgable of great music now have House of Atreus Pt. I to add to a growing collection of amazing conceptial CD's. In fact, it is almost becoming a prerequisite anymore as the number of great bands increases, so will the necessity to be innovative. Man, who would've done an entire metal album about Greek Mythology in the 1980's? Wow, the first decade of the 21st century is looking bright for sophisticated metal fans.

Note: I always comment on the singer in each of my reviews. David DeFeis's singing is one reason I did not give this a 5. It seems like he holds back. Maybe he's going for the emotional display instead of the range display, but it seems like no matter how he uses his raspy voice, it always sounds like he's partially whispering.

As the title implies "The House Of Atreus Act 1" is the first CD of a set. The story is told in 2 Acts and the second CD is not surprisingly called "The House Of Atreus Act 2".
The action of "The House Of Atreus Act 1" takes place after the fall of Troy. It tells of the fate of Agamemnon King of Argos upon his return to his homeland. I won't go into details sufficient to say that its full of death and betrayals.
There are 10 different characters in the story. David Defeis sings all the parts. The only way to tell which character sings what is by consulting the booklet. David Defeis range is quite majestic going from a low treble to a high falsetto.
The album could be termed a metal opera in the truest sense. Overall the music is very grandiose and atmospheric. The album is composed of 22 songs. Four of the songs are 2 minutes or less and 3 more are 3 minutes or less. These songs are used as a transition from one scene to another or to set the mood for the next song and do an excellent job in the process. The album's song ranges from fast and melodic metal to gentler keyboard and acoustically driven songs. Each style complementing and enhancing the distinct trait of each other. This album is a very effective melding of classical, opera and heavy metal.

The best songs on the album included "Kingdom of The Fearless" which kick starts the album with furious rifting and non stop bass drums. "Ring of Fire" another of the metal songs aptly demonstrate Dave Defies vocal range and serious memorable backing vocals. "Flames of the Black Star" with its catchy headbanging chorus. "And Hecate smiled" starts with David signing melodically while the piano and guitar slowly join him to rise into a frentic crescendo that then proceeds to slow down mournfully. There is not a weak song in the bunch.

Overall an extremely good metal album that should be in the collection of any smart metal head.

Let's cut to the chase, Virgin Steele is simply the best band there ever has been or ever will be. The new cd House of Atreus-Act 1 is classic Virgin Steele. The vocals are truly incredible! David Defeis hasn't shown a range like this since Noble Savage! I'd be remiss if I neglected the awesome guitar of Edward Pursino,and the drum work of Frank Gilchriest. Child of Desolation is my personal favorite on this cd, but others like Great Sword of Flame also give a true metal fan a lot to chew on. Songs like Hecate Smiled and Flames of the Black Star also give anyone who likes to bang their heads a reason to smile. This cd is a must for anyone who loves metal, mythology, or just loves great music of any kind. I am anxious for Act 2. Virgin Steele has truly done it again!

Talk about "sustained excellence". There not only isn't a bad track on any of the Virgin Steele albums since Invictus, there aren't even any average ones. Every single song (excepting only the ridiculous "Saturday Night" on Hymns to Victory, the hits package) on all of these albums -- and that's hours of music -- is simply as good as epic, symphonic, "true" or power metal get.
It doesn't seem like they ever did get a high level of commerical success. It doesn't matter. We don't judge artists by their popularity nor by their worst works, we judge them by the aesthetic and spiritual quality of their greatest works. This record is one of the greatest albums in this genre you will ever hear. Virgin Steele deserves every bit of their legendary position in the history of metal, even if it's only the elites who seem to know they exist. You must add this one (and Invictus, and Part Two, and for that matter all their records with Pursino) to your collection right away -- unless you're some kind of tasteless doofus, of course, in which case you likely wouldn't have found out about this band anyway.

The first time I heard the album I thought it was ok, but since I started hearing it more and more I realized it really is a Classic Metal master piece. The songs sound better every time you hear it and they have so much energy on them: its a great album of what we dont hear anymore a lot, I mean Good Metal songs that sure make you headbang. THe lyrics are good too and the efects match the songs perfectly is not like an album that intends to be the new sound of metal or anything is just a great album that shows metal is not death and shows the way to play it!.

DAVID DEFEIS AND VIRGIN STEELELAYETH THE SMACK DOWN WITH AN EPIC OF TALES. THE MUSIC OPENS ANOTHER DOOR TO THE HARD ROCK AND HEAVY METAL COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR TOO LONG. EXCELLENT PRODUCTION! HEAVY GUITARS! GREAT MIX OF BASS GUITAR AND DRUMS! DAVID DEFEIS IS SINGING BETTER THAN EVER. THIS IS A VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT DRAMA FROM START TO FINISH. I CAN NOT WAIT FORPART 2.

Virgin Steele rturn with another excellent cd of classically inspired epic music. The only knock on the cd are the skips at a couple of places where songs run together. I've been to their website and this tends to be on all the cds. But the music contained is no less majestic for this little flaw. Its not quite in league with the Marriage of Heaven and Hell sets but close.

If you like Manowar, then you'll love Virgin Steele. The musicianship is much better than said band and the lyrical content is so much better than the rebellious teen anthems of Manowar. While the styles are similar, Virgin Steele offers alot more in maturity and this album is a must for any fan of the new age of power metal (i.e. Blind Guardian, HammerFall, Nocturnal Rites, etc.). The storyline kicks...with the Greek tragedy on this CD and the highlights include "Kingdom of the Fearless", "Through the Ring of Fire", "Fire God" and the "ballads" are quite good as well. All in all a killer release of TRUE METAL!

Fans of Manower should love Virgin Steele. The lyrics are better and so is the guitar playing. The music is epic in scope and performance. David DeFeis is a gifted songwriter and talented keyboard player. I just wish he had more range as a vocalist. Listen to the music and imagine Eric Adams singing it. For some reason on my cd there a couple of skips during the song transitions but they are minor.

I like these guys. They add good guitar riffs to classical music. Some of the solo piano can get a little dull.(Thank goodness for CD burners) I put the best songs from the three cd's on one disk. (House of Atreus Act 1 and 2 makes three cd's total.) Everyone I know doesn't like them along with bands like Blind Guardian and Rhapsody. But it's their loss. Get these albums, they are different but cool.