SANCTION X - review added 24th June 2009
Album Review: The Last Day (2009)
For fans of: Power Metal... and Magnum
Sanction X are a brand new German band built around vocalist Ebby Paduch (Stonefield, D.T.F., Infinity's Call) and guitarist Robby Böbel (Talon, Frontline, Evidence One). Completing the line-up are Roberto D'Amico on bass, Peter Langer on drums and Ben Eifert on keys.
Ebby's voice is really, really good, although he struggles to get his teeth round a number of pronunciations (typically anything with a 'th') and that takes away from his efforts. His voice varies between silky screaming and mellow howling. He often sounds like a battle-spec version of Bob Catley.
The music itself has more than a passing resemblance to Bob Catley's solo and Magnum work too. The style is grandiose and overblown... kind of like a cruise missile with glitter and tassels on it. There are layers galore and a huge depth to the sound and harmonizing.
The record opens with a Dann Huff styled riff before gently turning down a power-metal tangent. 'The Calling' is a slow number with a monster chorus and a brilliant build-up through the verses. If only Ebby could pronounce his words with a touch more panache it would be an exceptional track. The medium-paced 'When Fire Will Touch The Night' has another big chorus, although overall it isn't quite as mind-blowing as the first song. The vocals however are considerably more, er, accurate.
'Eyes Of A Stranger' is a track that promises much but never quite hits the highs you expect. It's a good song and a fine addition to the album, but in some ways slightly disappointing. 'Alone Again' is a solid track with a proud, strong sound. It's a song that's been hewn rather than written. You aren't ever going to fall in love with it, the power never eases up into catchiness, but you will always respect and admire it.
'Feelings Came To Me' is as Magnum as a gun held by Dirty Harry. The layering of chorus harmonies could have been taken from any number of Bob and co's albums. 'Reason Why We Were Born' is up there too. It's a fantastic track, pronunciation issues aside, and has a vast feel.
'The Eyes' definitely captures the mind. With lyrics like "Lost paradise, suffers from lice" it's bloody hard to forget it! It's an epic track with a suspicious Eurovision vibe woven in. The end result is catchy and fun... in a strangely serious way. 'The Last Day' is very similar to 'The Calling'. It's a crawling behemoth of a track with the sort of chorus you could use to destroy a world. 'Eternal Light' has a brilliant chorus; in fact the whole song is damned decent. The kick drums are thunderous. 'Fly Away' finishes the album on a decent, if whine-filled note. It's a touch overindulgent on the moaning front but still has a reasonable sound.
The Last Day is full of fabulous songs. It would be one of the better albums this year were it not for the pronunciation issues. The ill-spoken parts are so small it should have been easy to sort them at the recording stage. Sadly they didn't and it grates. However, even taking that into account, this is a great album chock full of top songs.
Check out... 'The Eyes', just for the dodgy lyrics if nothing else.
Track List:
01. The Calling
02. When Fire Will Touch The Night
03. Demon's Dance
04. Eyes Of A Stranger
05. Alone Again
06. Feelings Came To Me
07. Reason Why We Were Born
08. The Eyes
09. The Last Day
10. Eternal Light
11. Fly Away
Label: Metal Heaven
Band websites: Sanction X , MySpace
