EDGUY — Hall of Flames (review)

Boxset / Compilation · 2004 · Power Metal

4.5/5 · 2010-08-19
1967/ 1976

If you have nothing on Tobias Sammet and his band I believe that this compilation is the bible for the AFM period. Certainly, if you love Power Metal you can not have such a product, especially if you are new to the genre. Also because here you will find 24 charat Power Metal.

CD 1: The strart is with a single version of "Tears Of A Mandrake (original in "Mandrake", 2001), a great Classic Metal/ Power Metal with Symphonic passages, tons of AOR chorus in Power Metal field and great organ. "Jerusalem" (from "Mandrake, 2001) is an epic song, extremely Power Metal and not totally good for me because too excessive in wanting to emphasize the different elements into something already heard. Yet it is a good song. "Out Of Control" (from "Vain Glory Opera, 1998) is a pure Heavy Metal song, not Power or Traditional but simply classic Heavy Metal song. That, at the end, this is a pue Power metal song is insignificant. This song is one of my preferred songs in this compilation. "The Edless Game" ("Theater Of Salvation", 1999) is a traditional Power Metal song, that present all elements of Power Metal but that not convinced me today as in 1999. "Scarlet Rose" (from "Vain Glory Opera", 1998) is a power ballad and in this sense is an AOR song with Power Metal treatment."Nailed To The Wheel" (from "Mandrake", 2001) present a POP Metal intro and Power Thrash rest of song with typical Edguy vocal lines and Power Metal chorus. This song is extremely aggressive. "Vain Glory Opera" (from "Vain Glory Opera", 1998) is a pure Traditional Metal song in Power Metal field: very epic but at the end, simply Rock song with AOR flavor, similar to Europe's Final countdown" (as it has confirmed Tobias Sammet). Another great song by Edguy! "Theater Of Salvation" (from "Theater Of Salvation", 1999) is a mini-suite. In general very epic. Imitation of "Halloween", "Keeper of The Seven Keys" and "Heading For Tomorrow"? In every case... Great composition! "Key To My Fate" (from "The Savage Poetry", version 2000) is a good Power Metal song with an organ a la Deep Purple: And if Deep Purple was a Power Metal band? "Deadmaker" ("Kingdom Of madness", 1997) is good song with grater guitars. But the style used here leads me to say: "And if dio was a Power Metal singer?". In every case one of my preferred song of this compilation: simply, powerful, aggressive and technical! "Land Of The Miracle" ("Theater Of Salvation", 1999) is a ballad but not proper a Power Ballad. It is, better, a pure Rock ballad. "Until We Raise" ("Vain Glory Opera", 1998) is a typical Speed Power Metal song a la Helloween (post Kai Hansen)."The Umbeliever" ("Theater Of Salvation", 1999) is a good Power Metal song that not please me at all, with good organ and aggressiveness.

CD 2: Is a CD compiled with bonus tracks, unreleased materials and others. The first song is "The Devil & The Svant" (Bonus track, 2001), a good Power Metal song with AOR moments and good refrain, extremely melodic but very aggressive. "Wings Of Dream" here is in 2001 version and the original version was part of "Kingdom Of madness" (1997). This song is an Epic melodic Speed Metal a la Stratovarious. "For A Trace Of Life" is a bonus track from 1999 and it's an acoustic Power Ballad that smelling of unplugged fashion. In truth "For A Trace Of Life" is a very good Hard/ AOR song. "But Here I am" is a Japan only track from 1998 that present R'n'R strophe and Power Hard Rock refrain all in Punk style . "La Marche Des Gendarmes" is a French promotion single from 2001. Originally this song was written from the French movie "Le gendarme de Saint-Tropez" by Raymond Lefevre and not have nothing in common with Power Metal, also if the chorus is arranged in Power Metal style. The rest of CD 2 is live: "Avantasia" is from live album "Burning Down The Opera" and it is a good melodic Power Metal song. "Walk Of Fighting" is a bonus track recorded in Italy from 1999. The style is a good Power Metal with Symphonic and Thrash treatment but with Hard Rock final style result. "Wake Up The King" is recorded live in Japan in May 2002. This version isn't bad but not please me at all as the studio version.

In definitive substance "Hall Of Flame" is a great compilation, the definitive AFM's Edguy album. you don't hesitate to buy this compilation!!!