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HALFORD

Score: 3 out of 5 Battle-Axes (more about rating system)

After Halford's phenomenal debut, Resurrection, I anxiously awaited Crucible. For those of you not familiar with the band's initial release, it was straight-ahead 80s metal, chock full of crunchy riffs, screaming vocals, and catchy tunes that could have easily been mistaken as classic Judas Priest. So how does Crucible measure up? Unless you like a modern guitar sound and subdued vocals from the 'Metal God', it doesn't fare too well. While the band still maintains its hard-core heavy metal image, complete with black leather and spikes, the guitar sound is noticeably tuned down this time around. Although "Betrayal" and "Hearts of Darkness" are reminiscent of songs from Resurrection due to the faster playing and higher register vocals, this style is short-lived on Crucible. The highlight of this band is Rob's high-end vocals, but most of the tracks on the new album are very modern and find his voice in mid-range territory. Rob said he wanted to experiment to avoid repetition but the modern sound will probably alienate the 'old school' metal community. It sounds like he's trying to attract a younger audience. Let's face it, most young kids won't listen to a dinosaur like Halford, so he is just digging his own grave. Hopefully he'll turn things around for the next release. (Lynn Phillips)

www.sanctuaryrecordsgroup.com