Band:	Stranglehold
Album:	Elemental
Style:	Power metal
Release date:	May 1999

01. Total Eclipse
02. Discretion
03. Achile Heels
04. Stranglehold
05. Instinctively Infectious
06. Dying By Design
07. 13
08. Different Faces
09. Subliminal Stimulus
10. Depth Charged

For all the ones who were looking after a new band of Heavy Metal from United Kingdom, guys you can be happy because I just found a new combo which will be for you, I'm sure of it. Stranglehold plays Heavy, Stranglehold plays Power, Stranglehold plays Prog Metal, this band is a mix of all the Metal genres, the perfect mix between all the melodic aspect of our great Heavy Metal, and when we have such quality, of course we must check the band which is able to plays such music. That's the case of Stranglehold and I invite you to read my few words to introduce them?

The definition of the music of Stranglehold is really complex, if I can say that the band plays Power Metal, I must admit too that the very complex riffs and the keyboards melodies (and solos) give a progressive aspect to the music of the band, which becomes more than original and interesting. Just imagine a mix, between a classics Heavy Metal band from the UK, with a band like Stratovarius all that with the progressives touches. That's the music of the band this is catchy as hell, and above all, damn, what a bunch of great musicians. Really you'll see it, the guitars solos for example are damnly impressive, very fast and technical, and that the same for the drums and the bass. When it comes to the vocals, here again we have a good singer, even if I find that the mixing work for his voice is not perfect and that sometime, it's a bit hard to hear him. That's just a detail aof course and one more time, I must only say that we are in front of some great talented musicians who know how to give a good feeling when they play their music.
The songs of this album are good, not repetitive and even if the music of this band is not the last revelation of the year, at least their compositions are direct and have theuir little effects on the listeners and all the ones who want to listen such Metal will be dazzle by this album.
The production is correct even if that's not the best too, like I say before sometime the sound of the instruments/vocals is not really well mixed, but we see a lot of worst recording, don't worry. Let's just hope that it will be a bit better the next time, and the album will be perfect.

This is a nice production, and I'm sure that all the ones who want Power with the typical English sound will love this album. Stranglehold did a good first album with some great hits like "Total Eclipse" and I can only recommend it to all the Heavy Metal lovers. Check it you'll never regret it, the Heavy Metal from UK is not dead hoo no?