Milan Green Blade
The debut of Milan based Blake's
Vengeance has a similiar story to many titles in my collection. You
know, in many cases, there is only one master: a lucky fortune.
Knowing nothing about the band, first I saw it on Selfmadegod Records
site last year, in new arrivals section. The front cover, bathed in
green (remember, Overkill was absolutely first!), wasn't anything
encouraging, yet I decided to give it a chance: one fast listen to
the opening song and here is my cd version. Originally released as a
digital demo in 2014 with different logo and cover art, then one year
later on cd with changed logo, cover art and titled as „7747-7744”
and the green reviewed copy, the last edition so far from 2016, this
time under the wings of Polish Defense Records. And to put it
briefly, the label should be awarded for such a neat and surprising
move.
Surprising? No! The combination of two
different numbers couldn't be omitted. This demo brings almost twenty
minutes of music deeply rooted in thrash and heavy metal with
definitely clear technical touch. Another recognizable element of
this puzzle is clever using of melody, both in riffs and spectacular
leads. But the very first thing that got my attention was the vocal
lines of Davide and his manner reminding me Eric A.K from the
eighties period. So, is it possible the famous singer has got younger
brother somewhere in Lombardy? Of course no, it's not like that.
Anyway, Davide's voice sounds great and really fresh for me.
Giving Flotsam and Jetsam vocalist's
name as an example above doesn't refer only to it and has its own
reflection in musical layer and some influences from Phoenix legend
are audible. What's interesting, it seems the Italians know perfectly
two first classic albums „Doomsday for the Deceiver” and „No
Place for Disgrace”, yet I found references even to „High” from
1997, however demo hasn't got such fast paces, rather being
maintained in moderate speed. Yes, there are short faster moments in
the second half of the opener or in „Blind to the World”, but it
isn't the key here. And as for heavy genre in general and pervasive
catchiness, I would indicate the Iron Maiden shades. And such a bag
of ideas is something really compelling. Lightness, facility,
openness, with use of great skills where technique isn't a mindless
display, make the stuff pretty accessible. And absolutely fantastic!
The production side is an added value
as the whole sounds exquisitely. Hard to believe it's just a demo.
And hard to choose the leading song. For sure, „Ronin” has a
chorus that cannot leave my head and I often catch myself on singing
it during my work. The longest one here, with splendid guitar leads
lasting over one minute, there's even a room for drum solo. In turn,
„Blind to the World” is like a semi-ballad due to its mysterious,
eerie guitar parts, in some definitely strange way I could compare
this track to the beloved „Escape from Within”. These twenty
minutes run very smoothly, with not a single boring second, and I've
got a real pleasure to listen to it, as I face the metal thing it
should be played in such a way in this genre. Despite of mentioned
bigger names, the demo sounds very fresh, vivid and quite...
original. On the other hand I am a bit concerned as the band hasn't
recorded anything since 2014. Yes, as opposed to the opening song
title, they are still alive according to their social media and I do
hope to hear something new in our current very hard times. All right,
on the end, this music is yet another great evidence that using
sounds once intended and played, there is always possibility to
create very good music supported by own talent, skills and visions,
not being locked down in the snares of soulless imitation. Believe
me, Blake's Vengeance has got it all.
90/100
-Tlacaxipehualiztli
(written in March, 2020)
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