Vision of Choice
Mistress of the Gods

A German heavy metal project inspired by the likes of Iron Maiden, Helloween, etc. Well, press release writer, you lost me at Iron Maiden. Fortunately, I never read the press stuff before listening to the albums, and I try not to look at artwork and that kind of stuff as well – some claim that you can make fresh heavy metal, I am sceptic but perhaps it is still possible. Judging by some ratings by web reviewers it is possible that this is such a unicorn, but internet reviewers usually overrate for some reason and at some places 9/10 would equate to about 4/7 at hallowed if you look at how they rate, still, it could have been possible that this deserved a high rating.

It is typical heavy metal with power chords, some catchy choruses, some grand vocals, phallic choirs, the cover and logo pretty much tell you how it sounds. You will not be surprised. The production is fairly decent, and I think the singer is quite good. The album isn’t particularly varied and the playing time too long, I am looking for things to grab and hold on to but there are none, the album goes on and then it ends without really coming up with anything that feels even remotely fresh. Copying Iron Maiden or whatever is not a way to stand out or make anything worthwhile.

I find myself thinking about this fact that Iron Maiden is kind of the definition of the NWOBHM heavy metal style, it is the band you think of when someone says heavy metal. Helloween is the power metal name, it is Keepers of the Seven Keys that defines the genre and is the name you tend to think when someone says power metal. Dream Theater is the same for progressive metal. Haven’t you ever thought about how none other than the one who does the fresh thing at the right time is the one that dwarfs everyone else. Has it been done it is kind of pathetic to do it again and think you will make much of a mark. You can still be good, but it is not possible to be as interesting as the best and the first, and Vision of Choice choose their musical direction with very poor vision.

I can’t really listen to this album, it just goes on but there is nothing that teases my mind, nothing that grabs my attention, nothing that makes me listen. I listen to it but hear a whole load of nothing, I put my mind to investigate what I am listening to and I hear some half-assed songs that are relatively well performed and produced but as noteworthy as the lint in your pocket, it is just there but will never change the world of music. The pocket lint has as good a chance as this album to make a mark in the scrolls of music history. Some heavy metal fans might disagree and that is natural as this album targets those who wants to hear the same thing over and over and see the same movie over and over as well as eat the same food every day. It is for those who fear the new, but if you are one of those why not go for Somewhere in Time, Number of the Beast, Powerslave or Keeprs of the Seven Keys? Those are much fresher albums and way better than this one.

HHHHHHH