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An impressive, albeit schizophrenic, record from Germany’s Perzonal War. On the one hand, we have some classic-sounding modern metal, with touches of nu-metal groove and radio–friendly song construction. And on the other, we have old-school speed metal with more than a passing resemblance Metallica.
The press info found on the promo version of Perzonal War’s When Times Turn Red acknowledges that the band were often compared to Metallica in reviews for their 1st three albums, but further states that the band have now ‘found their very own identity’. This is only partially true. While the album as a whole is good, from the Nevermore-like ‘For The Last Time’ to the prog-ish production number ‘Hope Dies Last’, the band still has a ways to go in shaking of the Mighty M’s considerable influence on their sound.
A compromise seems to be taking place here, with PW breaking their sound into two distinct sub-groups: their ‘very own identity’ songs and their Metalli-clones. On the thrash songs (‘In Flames’, ‘My Conspiracy’, ‘Inferno’), Perzonal War effortlessly resurrect the sound and spirit of the ‘Thrash Metal Metallica’, the band that gave us ‘Motorbreath’, ‘Damage, Inc.’, ‘Battery’ and ‘Fight Fire With Fire’.
Vocalist/guitarist Metti sounds frighteningly similar to James Hetfield, especially on these songs, and the band as a whole delivers this type of material so well, that it almost makes you feel like it’s 1986 again. When the vocals in the first verse of ‘In Flames’ kick in, it’s just downright creepy… The band’s ‘very own identity’ material is certainly strong enough to stand on its own, muscular, dynamic, and quite convincing while showing plenty of promise. Perzonal War’s identity needs to develop a bit further, and a bit further away from something that they’re probably too good at to simply let go. Leaving Metallica behind will be the key to their future as a credible international act.
| Tracklist |
| 1. When Time Turns Red |
| 2. In Flames |
| 3. For The Last Time |
| 4. The Unbeliever |
| 5. My Conspiracy |
| 6. New Age |
| 7. Frozen Image |
| 8. 5 More Days |
| 9. Hope Dies Last |
| 10. Inferno |
: 46.37
| Buy other Perzonal War albums |
