ZANDELLE - Twilight On Humanity

Posted: 2/16/03

Reviewed by: Dirt

Category: Power Metal

Released: 2002

Label URL: www.limb-music.de

Artist URL: www.zandelle.net

1/2

Most of you probably haven't heard of this band, but we (actually, Steve Gottlieb was the reviewer) reviewed their independent debut, Shadows Of Reality (1998), back in Metal Dreams #3. We commended the Brooklyn, New York based Zandelle for going against the grain, delivering their power metal style when it wasn't at all popular. Anyone that's been to Brooklyn is well aware of the fact that it isn't exactly a hotbed of metal, especially power metal. The only complaint Steve had was that Shadows didn't have enough aggression to it. Well, Twilight On Humanity definitely has more of an edge to it, sounding like a less produced, more raw version of HammerFall. Vocalist George Tsalikis (ex-Gothic Knights) has an 80s US power metal style that ranges from mid-to high, guitarists Antony Maglio and T.W. Durfy have a strong twin axe attack, and drummer Bob Delmini uses a lot of double bass. Lyrically, Zandelle covers similar territory to HammerFall on songs such as the straight-ahead opener "Warlords of Steel." They stray into epic, mid-paced, long-winded territory, on the seven-plus minute "A Hero's Quest" and the twelve-minute title track, which is where the band loses me. I'm more into the group's direct, get-to-the-point songs like "Warlords Of Steel" and "Immortal Realms," but this really isn't the style that Zandelle concentrate on.

The Bloody Truth: If you are into raw, epic power metal, these guys do it well, but if you are looking for a full album of direct anthems, like me, this isn't it.