ALBUM REVIEW: Hellraiser - Heritage

HELLRAISER (Italy)

"Heritage"

(Underground Symphony Records)

Release date: May 25th 2019

Genre: Power metal, speed metal

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HELLRAISER is an Italian heavy metal band that has been around since 2011. Initially the brainchild of guitarist Michele Brozzi, but the band's line up was completed after the recruitments of fellow guitarist Marco Tanzi, singer Cesare Capaccioni, drummer Riccardo Perugini and bassist Riccardo Rogari were done. Rogari left the band immediately after they completed the recording of their debut album "Revenge of the Phoenix" in May 2014, and Francesco Foti replaced Rogari soon after. HELLRAISER has maintained a steady line up ever since, and released their self produced debut in July 2014, and then re-released it after signing with Sliptrick Records the year after. 

On their tour to support their album, HELLRAISER shared stages with bands like Riot V, Domine and Picture, a fine line up of experienced and widely known bands to add to their list of merits early in their career. 

"Heritage" is their second album, and hit the shelves this last May. The album is a concept album, but not in a traditional sense where there is a continuous story being told. The album is a compilation of nine different tales from diverse parts of the world in different historical periods. The main plot of "Heritage" is to highlight the aspect of narration itself, rather than the topics in the stories themselves. Even since before the art of writing became a reality, the human race has had a fundamental need to pass on stories from one generation to another, and even though the songs tell their different stories, it is the topic of narration that this Italian quintet wants to dive deeper into on their second album. 

Italy is famous for their heavy metal, especially that of the more powerful and symphonic kind. HELLRAISER is a bit more basic, straight forward heavy/power metal without anything flashy to reach their musical magnitude. The production is nowhere near sounding polished, thankfully, and it keeps the music honest and genuine in all its powerful simplicity.

Cesare Capaccioni has a good, powerful voice that fits HELLRAISER's expression very well. Guitarists Brozzi and Tanzi are the very base of the band with their powerful chords and melodic and harmonic riffs, and their lead guitar work is remarkable. The band wouldn't sound as massive and heavy without Francesco Foti providing the lower frequencies, and Riccardo Perugini's kick drum work is in a league of its own. 

Their choice of topic for a conceptual album like this is a very interesting one, as well as the individual stories as told in each of these tracks. The lyrics are well written short stories, and consequently (seemingly as a tribute to their own concept) the band's ability to narrate deserves a mention of its own. 

All in all, HELLRAISER may not have invented anything new on their sophomore album, but all tracks are solid and well arranged compositions that collectively make up an equally solid album. Though you may have had a taste similar to it before, "Heritage" is another that is guaranteed to leave you satisfied. 

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Tracklist: 

1. Heritage

2. Plagues Of The North

3. Ritual Of The Stars

4. Fairy Veil

5. Mother Holle

6. Preludio

7. Delvcaem

8. Balance Of The Universe

9. Voice In The Wind

10. Zephyr's Palace

11. Lady In White

HELLRAISER:

Cesare Capaccioni - vocals

Michele Brozzi - guitar

Marco Tanzi - guitar

Francesco Foti - bass

Riccardo Perugini - drums