AGE OF EVIL - Get Dead

Getting this EP for a review and looking at the band’s promo pictures I \r\nhave to admit I was mislead thinking “ok we’ve got some US kids with a \r\nguitarist looking like Bon Jovi back in the day, no big deal. At least \r\nI’ll have a good time listening to this” I should have eaten my words \r\n(in fact I almost did). “Cruel Intentions”  kicks in and by listening to\r\nthe guitar riffing I took back everything i thought at first. No hard \r\nrock here, no Bon Jovi stuff. What this EP is about is absolute Heavy \r\nMetal at its very best!! Next song is “Get Dead” and any objections I \r\nhad about their age or their looks is gone. Well kids or not they kick \r\nsome ass! We’re talking about a band consisting of two sets of brothers \r\n(the Goldbergs and the Ziffs) with average age 18 to 20 who perform \r\ntheir music like real professionals! What impressed me the most were the\r\ncover songs of Skid Row’s “Slave To The Grind” And Judas Priest’s “The \r\nHellion/Electric Eye” they sound totally awesome! A.O.E have given them \r\nthe power and the passion of the rebelling youth, something that took \r\nthe tracks to another level!(we should consider that these kids were not\r\neven born when these songs were originally written). There are two more\r\nsongs on this EP “Eye For An Eye” and “Glimpse Of Light” performed live\r\nand it’s exactly there that the band shows its strength making us \r\nrealize that A.O.E is not another studio band which is backed up by \r\noverdubbing and drum triggers. Musically their compositions sound like \r\nMegadeth back in the day when Marty Friedman was on the band (and I \r\npoint this out cause I thing that the guitarist Jordan Jiff is a lot \r\ninfluenced by Friedman) along with some Iron Maiden licks, all given \r\nthrough a modern approach, as far as the sound is concerned. Jeremy \r\nGoldberg’s vocals sound powerful giving out a unique feeling of \r\noriginality, while sometimes he growls like Mustaine. As for the guitar \r\nwork I’d rather not comment on this. I will simply say that is more than\r\nimpressive! Same goes to the rhythm section as well.
\r\nSeriously, if the flag of Heavy Metal is carried by bands like Age Of \r\nEvil, then there’s nothing to worry about. Our music needs new blood and\r\nthese guys seem to have what it takes. Can’t wait for their full length\r\nrelease.
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\r\nDimitris Karantounias\r\n