Serious Black
                                                                                                                As Daylight Breaks
                                                                                                                    AFM Records
Wow what a Power Metal Super group Serious Black are! In their ranks they have the hugely talented Urban Breed  on vocals (Tad Morose / )  Roland Grapow (Masterplan, ex-Helloween), Thomen Stauch (ex-Blind Guardian), Mario Lochert (ex-Visions Of Atlantis), Dominik Sebastian (Edenbridge), and Jan Vacik (ex-Dreamscape). 

Personally am a big fan of Urban Breeds other band Trail Of Murder , so knew this was gonna be a special album and I was  not wrong!

Soon as the needle hits  the groove, you just  know, its fast, wild ,with a frenzied opening , as "I Seek No Other Life " opens proceedings, this is good, in fact good doesn't do the opening salvo  justice, Breeds vocals are fresh and dynamic , the band crank out some juicy riffs and  symphonic rhythms you just can go wrong!

 

Keyboards open the catchy "High and Low"  the chorus will hook you in,its an uplifting , feel good song to shout about, and sing along to , its strong and an instant winner on this,the bands debut.

The mood is knocked down a tad as "Sealing My Fate" opens with  dulcet piano tones then   ignites into a melodic Power Metal assault as the band assail your senses, simply outstanding. "Temple of The Sun" is a short  instrumental with a middle eastern vibe which leads into "Akhenaton" its Egyptian vibe rocks the Pharaohs tomb,its an  energetic , mystical piece.

 

"Track number six "My Mystic Mind" crashes and whirls into your conscious with some breathtaking solos and drums  to wake the dead,this is fast furious and killer!  "Trail of Murder" hits a speeding pace as Breed sings and rocks you to the core.

Its worth noting Urban Breeds other band is called Trail of Murder and like his band this song kicks in the doors and rocks the hell out of your being!

 

The album title "As Daylight Breaks" is up next,its an atmospheric deep and mournful ballad which has moving , emotional lyrics for playing loud on a cold winters night with the log fire roaring and a bottle of mead at hand

 

Normal  service is resumed "Setting Fire To The Earth"  pummels and lashes out with hot  heavy grooves to melt the ice caps! "Listen To The Storm " builds slowly , then works into the piece de resistance , its  harmonious ,  and builds into a whirlwind of Metal Mastery.

Final song "Older and Wiser" ends with a pure Power Metal Meltdown, its energetic, with a potent punch to end this opus.

 

The band are currently out on tour in mainland  Europe with Hammerfall and thats bound to be a helluva of a concert, catch them live and listen to  Serious Black "As Daylight Breaks" you wont be let down its a Power Metalllers dream!

 

Review: Seb Di Gatto    Score: 9/10    

 

Tracklisting:                                                                           Facebook      Website   Twitter

1. I Seek No Other Life
2. High And Low
3. Sealing My Fate
4. Temple Of The Sun
5. Akhenaton
6. My Mystic Mind
7. Trail Of Murder
8. As Daylight Breaks
9. Setting Fire To The Earth
10. Listen To The Storm
11. Older And Wise
 

Band:
Urban Breed - Vocals
Roland Grapow - Guitars
Dominik Sebastian - Guitars
Mario Lochert - Bass
Jan Vacik - Keyboards
Thomen Stauch - Drums