Customer Reviews

Sacred Ground

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

 

 

The Reign Of Terror is a combination of metal forces. From the vocal end we have Mike Vescera (ex-Loudness, Yngwie Malmsteen), on guitar is Joe Stump (solo artist, Berklee College of Music Faculty), and the rhythm section are Jay Rigney and Matt Scurfield both of the industrial progressive metal band EVENT. This CD contains some of Mike Vescera's best recorded vocals, especially on tracks like "Save Me". Joe Stump is able to let loose for many 30-120 second solos which rival any of those on his previous solo releases. Overall, this is Mike Vescera's best vocal work since Yngwie Malmsteen's "Seventh Sign", and composition-wise this may be Joe Stump's best effort yet. Fans of hard driving european sounding power metal and shred will love this album!

A masterpiece from excellent musicians ; guitar virtuoso Joe Stump and former Yngwie singer Michael Vescere.This album has cool riffs,powerfull hich tech solos and beatiful music and very good,memorable songs.Another great power metal album.Actually I think that it is also a neoclassical album.Especially the solos are very classical inspired.(Blackmore,Yngwie).Guitarists:Get ready to cry.

Featuring the amazing guitar talents of Joe Stump and Mike Vescera's vocal virtuosity,the new opus by Reign of Terror(formerly known as Joe Stump's Reign of Terror)reaches a musical higher ground.Mike Vescera,of Loudness,Yngwie Malmsteen,Obsession,MVP,etc.,sounds fantastic adding power to the already beautifully crafted neo-classical metal that manages to avoid sounding like an imitation of Yngwie all the way.

This is a good metal cd in the vein of Yngwie J. Malmsteen. It's got Mike Vescera singing on it; of Loudness and Yngwie fame, and he just always sounds great. Of course the main thing about this band is Joe Stump's absolutely flawless guitar playing. Now, I gave this cd 4 stars because I got the 2nd cd, Conquer and Divide first; a cd I feel is one of those that ought to be held up as one of the few in metal that come as close to perfect as you're ever going to get, so I was a little let down by this cd's more melodic approach. However, this is their first cd and I consider it essential listening if you like hearing how the band developed. I urge you all to pick up Conquer and Divide (the 2nd cd from Joe Stump's Reign of Terror) because it belongs next to Yngwie's Marching Out, Iron Maiden's Powerslave, or Pantera's Vulgar Display of Power.

This is not for the fan of AOR but if you like guitar shredding without the crap lyrics then this is probably the place for you. This album really takes the genre of shredding power metal and presents it in a very respectable format. All the qualities those who love this genre have come to expect are here.

Great production, searing guitar lines and soaring vocals by none other than Mr Michael Vescera himself. This guy did wonders for the Japanese band Loudness, performed admirably for Yngwie Malmsteen and now has given this release some real oomphh.

Tracks that should really be listened to are Save Me and Sacred Ground - the first two tracks. If you like these then you'd love this album. It reminds me somewhat of Euro metal but not done by Europeans. Which is a nice change given the number of euro bands who've desperately tried to sound American over the years.

The reasons for me not giving this release five stars are that this sort of stuff gets a little too self serious sometimes. The Reign of Terror avoid falling too far into this trap but it's still there slightly. Also, much as I love his voice I can see someone getting a little tired of Vesceras' histrionics.

Also the liner notes do induce some cringing.

Overall a strong release from a mob worth watching.

This CD is excellent. Most songs are very good. Initially, I did not like the singers voice, but I got used to it and I appreciate the quality shown. The guitarist is very good, he doubles a few of the solos early on, and his style is classically orientated. He definely is a huge fan of Ritchie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen. Highlights include "Save me", "sacred ground" & "Still holding on" where the guitarist lets his hair down re the solo.

I bought this album because i have heard michael vescera before with yngwie and i really like his voice. this is an awesome euro metal sounding album but with an aggressive guitar sound. JUST BUY IT....download save me or sacred ground, to c if u liek it they r great songs. one of the best recent metal releases.