Band:	Elwing
Album:	War
Style:	Power metal
Release date:	2005
A review by:	Jeff

01. Marching To Glory
02. At The Gates
03. I'll Live Forever
04. Stormlord
05. Sons Of Revenge
06. War
07. Blood On My Hands
08. Fly Away
09. Armageddon
10. Lost Humanity

Formerly named Merlin in 2000, the combo from Greece released their debut album "Immortal Stories" under the name of Elwing in 2002. Three years later, the band is back with their new release "War", a pure Epic Power Metal album that have the faculty to avoid the numerous clichés of the genre, in two words, we are in front of a really interesting and innovative release of Epic Power Metal.

The first thing that will touch you, I'm sure of it, is the excellent voice of Sakis Koutsasis, the singer/guitarist of Elwing. This guy is good really and his really melodic voice is perfect for this kind of music. Evidently the singer is not the only member of a band but when he is good like Sakis, I think that we have to note it. On the other hand don't worry, the other members of Elwing are really good too.

The music of the album is a classic Power Epic Metal, with fast double bass drums in addition of some really heavy and speedy guitars riffs. The music, even if it is Power, is not so far away of Heavy Metal actually, and it doesn't sound cheesy at the end. That's melodic and catchy but in any case the music sounds easy with some "we're all mates" choruses that we find in 95% of the Power Metal bands. With "War" no doubt that we're in front of an excellent and original Power Metal a bit in the spirit of a Blind Guardian if you want an idea (take care however the voice of the two singers are really different and above all, Elwing is not a musical clone of the German combo).

The production (sound like artworks) is really good, near of the perfection and the enchanting atmosphere of the album is really impressive. My only regret comes from this battle-mode attitude through the lyrics, I mean that this is a bit "too much" for me and I'm sure that the band could be a bit better on this point.

"War" is a must for all the fans of Power Metal who have enough of all the bands who cannot avoid to fall in the trap of the Power Metal clichés. Here at least we have something efficient and original with a great musical quality of writing. You know it all, I really invite you to check the last album of Elwing, that will be one of the Power Metal revelation of the year.