Benedictum-Obey

Frontiers Records
2013

Due for release at the tail end of November, and once again produced by multi-instrumentalist Jeff Pilson (Dokken, Dio and surprisingly even Foreigner!), "Obey" is the forth studio-album from Veronica Freeman and Benedictum. It's also another prime example of why this San Diego, California-based traditional heavy metal act deserves their fine standing in the rank and file of U.S. metal acts and why, despite the mixed reactions to the group's last studio-album, 2011's "Dominion" (which I liked and gave a positive review to as can be seen at the link below), you just can't count out a group like this! With "Obey" it's easy enough to look past Benedictum's last album as, simply put, this group, which was formed back in 2005, is solid gold when it comes to true heavy metal. When you're talking about a band that blends the likes of Judas Priest, Warrior, Dio, Warlock (Veronica Freeman occasional even sounds like Doro which is a really good thing folks!), Rainbow and Savatage into one great package and also features a stunning lead vocalist with a powerful set of lungs in Veronica Freeman, Benedictum proves to be far too good to be ignored! On "Obey" Veronica 'The V' Freeman and superb guitarist Pete Wells are now joined by bass player Aric Avina (formerly of Tynator) and well-traveled/seasoned veteran (and all around cool drummer!) Rikard Stjernquist (Body of Scars, Ballistic, ex-Jag Panzer, ex-Karen Kenedy and ex-Sargon). Additionally you have keyboardist Tony Diaz and "Obey" features guest appearances by Tony Martin (ex-Black Sabbath/Cage) and A Sound Of Thunder's lead vocalist vocalist Nina Osegueda. That cut, "Thornz", finds the two equally gorgeous vocalists converging on one sweet cut and, along with the opening number, "Dream Of The Banshee", the title cut "Obey", "Scream" and many others, shows off a band that knows what works best and how to go for broke when the time calls for it! Both "Crossing Over" and the cut which features guest musician Tony Martin, "Cry", show Veronica's range and prove that she is so much more then just a metal goddess!  While those cuts show the softer side of Veronica the tracks "Dream Of The Banshee", "Scream" and "Fractured" deliver powerhouse vocals with Benedictum's stunning lead singer coming across as a little Leather Leone in nature as well as someone who could still be could be Udo Dirkschneider's long lost sister (see my review of "Dominion" for that reference point!). At just about 50 minutes in length, and covering a carp-load of ground from the 80's metal-inspired opener "Dream Of The Banshee" to the Mötley Crüe-like "Apex Nation",  "Obey" is a fun album that is easy to enjoy and never feels as if it's over staying it's welcome. While many question whether the move to Frontier Records would be wise for Benedictum when it comes to "Obey" all signs point toward a band that knows what it's doing and where it wants to go. In the end "Obey" is simple metal in the sense that it's more classic sounding then modern and it's fashioned in such a way that it plays to the strengths of real heavy metal (from glass-shattering lead vocals to shred the dead lead guitar solos) without seeming overly cheesy or as if the band is trying too hard. This is a good album from a good band and one release that I'll be looking to add to my personal CD collection! 

http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=Benedictum-Dominion+ 

Benedictum-Dominion

Frontiers Records 2011

Fronted by the extremely beautiful Veronica Freeman this San Diego, California heavy metal band will be releasing Dominion (their 3rd full length release) within the next month or so. Produced by Ryan Greene (Megadeth,Alice Cooper, Mr. Big) Dominion features guest appearances by Jeff Pilson (Dokken,Dio), Craig Gordy (Rough Cutt,Dio) and Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot,Ozzy Osbourne). Judging by the album cover and the fact that the band are on Frontiers Records I was expecting this to sound like Nightwish or Within Temptation. Thankfully that is far from the case. Benedictum play heavy metal. Not the currently trendy symphonic metal that I can only take so much of but honest to goodness heavy metal! Obviously influenced by bands like Accept,Dio and early Warlock this was just what I had been looking for to review (thanks Mark!). Starting off with the title track your treated to some wicked solos courtesy of guitarist Pete Wells. "At The Gates" is next and is straight up heavy (think Megadeth meets Accept-in fact vocalist Veronica could be Udo Dirkschneider's long lost sister) as is "Seer". In fact it's one first pumping metal tune after another up until "Beautiful Pain". Yes, "Beautiful Pain" does morph into the fired up "Dark Heart" but it starts off slowly in a haunting and beautiful way. "Bang" (featuring bass player Rudy Sarzo) is old school hard rock/metal with some meatly Pantera riffs going on. "Loud Silence" shows off Veronica's range and sounds like a heavier Lita Ford. "Epsilon" has a great sense of melody to go along with the shouted chorus. It features more incredible solos from Pete Wells. The bonus cut "Sanctuary" is probably the softest track on the disc and is both dark and charming. The last track on the disc is the very Dio/Rainbow sounding bonus track "Overture/The Temples of Syrinx". It's a great way to close off this superb disc. Again, I can't tell you how nice it is to hear some female fronted heavy metal that actually sounds heavy. I'm going to have to check out the group's other two discs.

Andy's Top 30 Heavy Metal Album Reviews of 2011

This year I have decided to do things a little different for my 2011 best-of. Instead of risking a list that would just be a mirror image of Metal Mark's I have decided to post a best-of based solely on my own album reviews. In other words these are the best albums I reviewed personally over the past year with some notes here and there just to keep things interesting. Obviously it is no particular order. Enjoy.

1)Ichabod Crane-Brimstone (Local hardcore, metal, thrash mash up band does good)

2)Bloodbound-Unholy Cross

3)Conflicted-Never Be Tamed

4)Totimoshi-Avenger (Weird and yet so powerful)

5)Ear Danger-Full Blast At Last (Just one of many older bands to grace my list)

6)Hell-Human Remains (What a great year it was for older heavy metal bands!)

7)Exxplorer-Vengeance Rides An Angry Horse (Power metal from the masters!)

8)Death Mask-Sitting In The Dark

9)Satan's Host-Celebration: For the Love of Satan (Re-recorded and re-worked classics!)

10)The Approach and The Execution-The Blood March (Protest The Hero meets Iron Maiden?)

11)Ana Kefr-The Burial Tree (II) (The new face of black metal!)

12)Junius-Reports from the Threshold of Death (Majestic and stunning!)

13)Mockingbird-Mockingbird

14)Bitches Sin-The Rapture (NWOBHM greats return!)

15)Thurkills Vision-For The Sleeping (Modern metal done right!)

16)Priscilla-Eight Lives Gone (Sleazy industrial trash metal?)

17)Times Of Grace-The Hymn Of A Broken Man

18)Praying Mantis-Metalmorphosis 30th Anniversary Special Edition EP (More great NWOBHM!)


19)Sign Of The Jackal-The Beyond (Limited Edition EP) (Horror movies, heavy metal and a female vocalist? Oh yeah!)




20)Voivod-Warriors Of Ice (A live album that showcases just how good these guys are)




21)Deadiron-Deadiron (More local metal like Iron Maiden meets Bay Area Thrash with an Ohio touch!)




22)R.U.S.T.-Forged in the Fire of Metal (Classic heavy metal from a new band. What is not to love?)




23)Benedictum-Dominion (The best in female fronted heavy metal)




24)Saxon-Call To Arms (Welcome back mates!)




25)Megadeth-Thirteen (Maybe Bay Area Thrash isn't dead?)




26)Dexter Ward-Neon Lights (Some of the best heavy metal out there!)




27)Skull Fist-Head öf the Pack




28)Killing Joke-Live at Hammersmith Apollo (Another excellent live album from a classic band!)




29)Slander- Careless Talk Costs Lives (Seriously good metal from a newer NWOBHM act)




30)Riot-Immortal Soul (American heavy metal at it's finest!)

All in all a pretty good year for heavy metal. Lots of local acts proved worthy of praise while plenty of older bands put out new albums that were just killer. There was great releases in straight up heavy metal, thrash, modern metal and black metal. Hopefully 2012 will prove to be as good!