Description

Epic metal act Vavel from Greece released their self titled debut album in 1986. Vavel have been discussed by epic metal lovers with both pleasure and disgust so if you search the net then you will find comments mentioning the band as both the most overrated and underrated band ever. The fact is that the band has written some really strong metal tunes with tons of great ideas but they do have a singer that really cant hit the high notes and it sounds like the album was recorded in a basement somewhere in Thessaloniki. If you can get past the sound and the sometimes false singing then youre in for a ride. A vocalist like for example Eric Adams could turn some of these songs into masterpieces. Vavel also uses keyboard and that’s was truly separates the bands from other epic acts such as Manilla Road, Adramelch and Dark Quarterer. The band recorded a second album that was supposed to be released in 1988 however it never saw the light of day back then. When the Greek record label Unisound released the debut album on cd (yes one of their legit releases), in a limited run of 3000 numbered copies then they also got the chance to hear this unreleased second album. Since the second album were just as strong as their debut the label really wanted to put this one out too. It was baptised ‘The Second Death’ and it was released at the same time as the re-released debut cd. ‘The Second Death’ consists of some very powerful compositions, imaginative leads and memorable lines. The strongest advantages of the album are the melancholic slow songs “Christmas Time” and “The Second Death” in the vein of Warlord and Crimson Glory where the keys build a lyric wall for the guitar’s raging graffiti. The singer delivers heavy tones with epic outbreaks increasing the majestic background. In addition to all of this the rest of the songs are either heavy classics (Let me try, United) or powerful rockers (Just for rock, Confusion). Only objection is “Lies in your eyes” that could have been in any Stryper album but is not in the sense of the rest of the album. Greece was not the right place for a heavy band in mid 80’s and that was the reason for some superb efforts like this one to remain dormant for decades. Nevertheless, since the release of 2002 made it available in 3000 copies we can taste “The Second Death” and savour the unique aesthetics of a brilliant but forgotten era. Track listing: 1. Just For Rock 2. Confusion 3. Let Me Try 4. Christmas Time 5. The Second Death 6. Let Me Try 7. United 8. Lies In Your Eyes