Band:	Nostradameus
Album:	Hellbound
Style:	Power metal, Thrash metal
Release date:	2004

01. Never Turning Back
02. Your Betrayal
03. The Reapers Image
04. Hellbound
05. One Step Away
06. Fight
07. Cuts Like Blades
08. Seven
09. One World To Live In
10. I Am Free

"Hellbound" is already the fourth releases of the Swedish combo Nostradameus. If their first albums were a bit flavorless I must admit that the band is improving its work lately. The best proof of this improvement is the last album "Hellbound" which, this time, seems to be a lot more personal. Something good is coming?

As I said before, "Hellbound" sounds a lot more personal than the others albums of the band. Actually, this is without any doubts the best release of Nostradameus and do you know why? Well the answer is simple, when a majority of bands choose to play a classic Melodic Power Metal, Nostradameus chooses to play something efficient, a music that has balls if you see what I mean. Like a Blind Guardian or an Iced Earth, Nostradameus plays now a "Thrashy" Power Metal a lot better than 90% of all the Power releases nowadays? Oki, it really sounds German (especially in reason of the "AFM" production) but it's well done at least and above all catchy.

Don't expect a real revolution however, "Hellbound" it's not so original but every fans of Blind Guardian, and all the German Power Metal bands will probably love this album. Ok it's a bit repetitive on a side but one can't say that it's not good to listen to this album, especially when you know how was the precedents albums of our Swedish guys. Here at least, it's easy to see that the band is becoming better and better after each releases, and after all this is something important for the career of a band. Nostradameus will maybe become a recognizing band? at least they're starting to deserve it with this new album.

Actually, the fans of the style like the fans of the band will like this album. It's a lot more mature and original and Freddy Persson and his mates are following now a good road. If Nostradameus knows how to do again such compositions in the future, we will have to count on this band in the category of (real) Power Metal. A good improvement?