Finally some new metal music that is just plain old heavy metal! I mean traditional or 80's-style metal and not rap-metal, nu-metal, or whatever is playing on the radio these days. You get the picture? For those of you, like me, who are fans of old school heavy metal like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden and 80's-style metal like Metallica and Megadeth, you know what I am talking about. We like our metal straight up...

CAGE, formed in 1992 in San Diego, released its first album, Unveiled, in 1998. The following year, the band won Germany's Rock Hard magazine's best unsigned band of 1999 award and played the prestigious DYNAMO festival in Holland with none other than Metallica. Astrology is the band's second release. With powerful and soaring vocals, grinding riffs, and pounding drums, all the ingredients are there for a headbanging good time. From the first song, their sound reminded me more than a little of Queensryche, with singer Sean Peck's vocals reminiscent in range and style of Geoff Tate. Dave Garcia and Eric Horton provide the dual-guitar attack with alternating solos. Mike Giordano on bass and Mikey Niel on drums complete the band's sound.

Coming in at over 72 minutes, there are 14 songs on the album (the 14th track is a bonus on the US release). The songs are consistent and flow well, giving them a sort of "concept album" feel. The theme of the album is astrology (hence the name, right?) and the lyrics deal with the mind, the universe, life and death, good and evil. There isn't a bad song on the whole album, although I really liked the first 3 songs: "Final Solution", "Psychotically Deranged", and "The Edge"; they had me banging my head pretty much non-stop. There is even a love song (!) on the album called "Souls and Flesh" — kind of an ode to soulmates.

CAGE is better known in Europe where, ironically, "traditional" American heavy metal is very popular. Their 3rd album is set to be released in the fall of 2002. Hopefully they will continue in the direction they are going by playing great metal, and expand their fan base in the U.S. as more people hear about them.

Bottom Line: Fans of old school heavy metal, 80's metal, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Queensryche, and those who just want to bang their heads to some good metal music should check this one out.

Shred Pick - "Final Solution"



[ Discography ] 

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Label: World War III | Item Code: WWIII 71169 | Country: USA | Year: 2001 | Genre: Metal

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