Let's put it clearly. For some band the process of making and releasing an album or to give live shows around, is a piece of cake for many reasons. They got the money, the luck on the connections around the music industry, or they just play so fucking mainstream stuff that everything comes so easy for them. On the other hand there are some bands that deserve to do all those mentioned things but unfortunately this is not so easy for them for many different reasons. They probably chose to play what comes straight from their hearts and souls and do not care about the mainstream mediocre, they prefer to compose new material than to hunt for a record deal and they got to face all the difficulties that life brings to a band (in many cases): military service, daily job and similar things. Well if you ask me Blade Of Spirit from Kozani (Greece) should have released their debut album years before. But this is not heaven and if you have read the first two paragraphs of his text, I am sure that you have already understood my point. Well the time for those veterans to release their debut album has come. Shadow's Race is the title and it contains 8 epic / power metal killer songs plus an intro and an outro. Straight in the face melodic Power Metal with lots of Epic touches is what we will meet in here. The memorable riffs and the melodic choruses are the main most characteristic elements in the stuff of this release. I really enjoyed the melodic vocal lines that are enforced with second and third voices. The rhythm section is heavy and into the point and I can point that all the songs are in upper tempos but be careful cause you must NOT prepare yourself for Euro Power Metal up tempo parts with no reason of existence. Here we deal with clear, characteristic and memorable riffs that carry the spirit of the traditional Heavy Metal. The production is very good and clear, something that should be mentioned as a very positive feature. Well I suppose that there are not so many things that have been left for me to write. If you search for melodic Heavy / Power Metal with Epic touches enforced by great riffs, very good vocals and passion, the debut album of those Greeks is for you. Enjoy it.

ps. Last Messiah is a fucking OPUS!!!!!

Review by: Countraven