| CD REVIEW Versus Heaven |
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Band : Versus Heaven This Athens based Greek Power/ Thrash Metal band was originally known as Betrayed (don't confuse with the Volon based Greek band by the same name), which was formed in 2004, with a line-up comprising guitarist Mimis Lygkos (the band's originator, starting a band of his own after having played in several bands in which he always had the last say when it came to the to-be-followed musical direction), bassist Ilias Maidanos, singer Nasos Kostas, and drummer George Panoudis (of Released Anger, Dead City, Crucifier, Korsikov, and Fatalist repute, among other). By the time the band released its 3-track demo Promo 2006, the latter two had been exchanged for Kostas Miliaras (vocals) and Dimitris Harisis (drums; shares Dead City, Crucifier and Released Anger as previous bands with Betrayer's former drummer). With the addition of guitar virtuoso Taso Evigo the band then took a name change to their current one. In this line-up (and with two songs from their earlier period in the set-list - “White Nights” was featured on Betrayed's demo, and the lyrics to the previously unrecorded “Angel Dust” are still by the hand of the first Betrayed singer), the band went into Athens' Baseline Studios during Winter 2009 to record their debut full-length. For some reason the band's drummer must've been temporarily unavailable at the time, because most drum duties were credited to one Andy Binder. Harisis did however play drums on 2 tracks, and added violin, bass, and additional rhythm guitars to those same songs. Musical guests on the album include Spyros Aspiotis (playing of the album's keyboards, he also mixed the recorded material), Nina Kassis (female backing vocals to the song “Unexplored Land”), Alex Flouros and John McRis (guest guitar solos; the latter also mastered the album, by the way). Behind The Perfect Mask surprises delightfully in different ways. For starters, the band's singer has a very strong, almost theatrical, voice, and his pronounciation of the English language is near-perfect...which is a treat with bands of any kind from the Mediterranean area. Secondly, the band has added Thrash riffs to their fast-paced Power Metal, and enriched it with solos which seem to have been penned by an Yngwie Malmsteen adept...in other words, there's a Neo-Classical touch to the whole as well. It all combines to make Versus Heaven a rather unique sound (which the band itself is influenced by the likes of Annihilator, Savatage, and Iron Maiden among others – and I'll admit to be able to see how that combination would shape this band) examples of which you can hear in the two album medleys, an equal amount of full-length tracks, and two “video clips” (only one is an actual clip, the second gives studio quality sound of a 3rd full-track song) posted at (www.) myspace.com/versusheaven. Should anyone ask me to make a “Best Power Metal Albums Of 2011”, I would immediately place Versus Heaven in the top ranks, even if this is only the beginning of the year...hence the high rating! Hum...according to one of my info sources, lead guitarist Taso Evigo would have been replaced by one Sinnik (but the info is still unconfirmed). 98/100 Tony. |
