VANTAGE POINT: Gemma Gemini CDEP

The lead track of 5 (over a twenty minute running time) has decided shades of early Judas Priest to it, with its high register strong vocals, seventies-esque riffing and solid rhythms on a driving slice of heavy rock that could quite easily have come from that band's beginnings. "Gripped By The Throat" brings us smack up to date with some furious riffing and racing drums that are more in keeping with modern metal, as the vocals soar and the harmony-laden chorus provide the icing on the cake. It's a fast and furious ride through the song that really catches fire and drives ahead in a blaze of guitars and pummeling rhythm section. "War Of The Dead" is even faster and stronger as a slice of raging metal unfolds, once again vocal right upfront, in this case perhaps a bit too much although the sea of solid rhythms and roaring guitars still cuts through. Just short of two minutes, if decelerates slightly to go into this anthemic metal mid-section before racing back into the main body of the song for the finale. "Slow Down" is just as raging - here with a slant more akin to early NWOBHM than anything , plus touches of Judas Priest in there too. Finally, they include "Sail On" from the previous EP, presumably 'coz they ditched the first one when this one became available. Overall, good, solid, dependable rock from a band that really explode into life when you see them live.

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