Description

Limited double album with gatefold cover and printed inner sleeves featuring photos, lyrics and special liner notes from David De Feis ‘Ill never falter, stumble or kneel. Thanks to the strength of my soul’ Formed in Long Island back in 1981 and it would take them 18 years and 7 studio albums before the finally hit it all with a totally flawless album. ‘Invictus’ beats most European power metal albums released at the same time. This is such a great album with blazing speed metal riffs, almighty vocal performance, double bass, glorious choruses, godly keyboard pieces, awesome solos and a great epic lyrical theme. Maybe this was the closest Virgin Steele would ever come to Manowar but still simply better than anything Manowar ever made and definitely more consistent. One of the reasons this is not just a great album, but a great concept album is because it doesn't fall to the cardinal sin of concept albums. That being having the story as the main focus, sometimes where it gets to the point where you can't listen to the best songs by themselves, because when you listen to them out of order, it takes them out of the proper context and comes off as extremely awkward, which is something Ayreon needs to take lessons in. Or if a concept album focuses too much on the story part of it, that they have to write the music to fit, which isn't always a good idea, also something Ayreon needs to learn. So that’s a few reason why this is a great concept album. The story isn't too obtuse and complex that it's impossible to follow, and the music doesn't take a backseat to the story. This album is made with incredible passion and skill, Defeis's compositional abilities are unbelievable and he has combined heavy metal with classical instrumentation and complexity flawlessly. His singing is immense on this album, he can jump between a devil and an angel within a breath….what a falsetto! On some of the bands earlier album he was to whining and unfortunately he would return and loose the power again on ‘Visions Of Eden’. Anyway on this album his singing is beyond criticism. Here youll find classics like ‘Invictus’, ‘Dominon Day’, ‘Mind Body Spirit’, ‘through Blood And Fire’ or the brilliant epic 10 minute ‘Veni Vidi Vici’. You simply cant live without this album Track listing: 1. The Blood of Vengeance 2. Invictus 3. Mind, Body, Spirit 4. In the Arms of the Death God 5. Through Blood and Fire 6. Sword of the Gods 7. God of Our Sorrows 8. Vow of Honour 9. Defiance 10. Dust from the Burning 11. Amaranth 12. A Whisper of Death 13. Dominion Day 14. A Shadow of Fear 15. Theme from the Marriage of Heaven and Hell 16. Veni, Vidi, Vici