Band: Mystic Prophecy
Album title: Fireangel
Label: Massacre
Distributor: Suburban
Release date: 22/05/2009
Release: CD

As far as its membership goes, bad Grönenbach (Bavaria) based German act Mystic Prophecy ain’t the most stable of bands! In fact, singer Roberto Dimitri Liapakis has been the only constant throughout this US Power Metal styled band’s history!

He formed the band during 2000 with Valley’s Eve bandmate & bassist Martin Albrecht, after having Gus G. of Firewind (then still fairly unknown) recommended by renowned producer/ guitarist David T. Chastain. The band was rounded up with Raise Hell drummer Dennis Ekdahl. In this constellation, the band recorded its first three albums, 2001’s Vengeance, 2003’s Regressus, and 2004’s Never Ending, all through Nuclear Blast. In February 2005, the band re-shaped with the recruitment of drummer Klaus Sperling (credited to Primal Fear and My Darkest Hate) and guitarist Markus Pohl (formerly of Valley’s Eve and Symphorce). In June they signed a deal with Massacre Records. Gus G., who’d already taken on extra work playing with Dream Evil and Nightrage, took on the role as live guitarist for Arch Enemy, and it’s with new second axeman Martin Grimm (of Headstone Epitaph) that MP recorded their 2006 release Savage Souls! Another newcomer at that time was drummer Mathias Straub, Sperling apparently only hired for live work during 2005. That same line-up also recorded the October 2007 release Satanic Curses, but Straub left some months after the recordings of the album, leaving his place to Stefan Dittrich…and in July 2008 both Grimm and longtime collaborator Albrecht left to focus on their families. Replacements were found in guitarist Constantine (of Nightrage and Descending) whom joined in August, and bassist Connie Andreszka (veteran of Titanya, Bowtome, Circle Of pain, Evidence One, and Spellsinger) entering the fold in October.

If you’ve only known Mystic Prophecy from its beginning days (well, we were only sent those first two albums for review back in the days, see?), it’s important to know that they grew to incorporate a Progressive touch in their music. Actually, I’d even dare to say they’re now also giving their music an extra “modern” touch, adding a Death Metal touch here and there with down-tone played guitars! There’s definitely a soft Satanic touch to the band’s lyrics, which can be derived already from the song titles: “Across The Gates Of Hell”, “Demon’s Blood”, “We Kill You Die”, “To The Devil I Pray”, “Fight Back The Light”, “Death Under Control”, “Revolution Evil”…and if that ain’t enough proof you need only listen to the samples posted at myspace.com/mysticprophecy. Stylistically, the band alternates speedier tracks against more groovy (“calmer”) ones, which goes a long way to keeping the casual listener mesmerized throughout the album. On top, Liapakis has a resounding voice, which he often backs up himself on the album to enhance the harmony factor. Mixing done by Fredrik Nordström (with production by Liapakis himself) ensured a splattering sound to boot!

89/100

Tony.