format: Split-MLP
year: 1990
country: Spain
label: Zarel
#: Z-004
info: Insert w/ lyrics & credits
style: Heavy Metal
Side MASADA:
Side ARCANGEL:
Split albums is a severly underrated format, at least in theory. Basically you get two Mini-LPs in one, and MLPs is as you all know the most quintessential of vinyl formats - splits multiply this with 2! Mostly.
My only major complaint about this particular release is how they cheated us some on the content. The 3 tracks per band could preferably have been extended to a full 5/5
set, but there's something to be said about trimming the fat I guess, and on the upside both bands only found the time and space to present us with one dud each.
In MASADA's case I wouldn't even go so far as calling it a dud. "Detras.."
rocks its pounding Metalrock hard and Toni's raspy vocals adds further grit, but those cursed, infernal, doGdamned "nah-nah-nah"s almost ruins it completely. It's a shame since the bridge was good enough to serve as a chorus on its own and you could just have cut out the cancer completely and end up with a great tune. Not as great as "Ven Pronto A Mi" though! This is 80's Euro Power Metal 101 - fast, proud and catchy and not forgetting to include those mandatory Maiden-guitar harmonies. Not an original bone in its Metal body, but who cares? They wrap up with their theme song and once again follow the rulebook by making it their magnum opus. 7 minutes of solid epicness, pending between slow and heavy verses and proud galloping chorus parts fattened by some superb oozing aah's you'd love to sing along to live.
If Masada is the more Power Metal of the 2 acts, ARCANGEL
is the most refined. Classy Melodic Metal is the name of the game and the performance is as mighty fine as any US cultists you could think of (if you happened to be thinking of stuff like Villain, Fifth Angel, Hammeron etc..) and both the opening "Yo Soy.." as well as the following "No Digas Nada" are quite the little pearls in this field, with some great guitarwork and soaring, high vocals. And then there's the dud, "Rock And Roll A Traves Del Tiempo", a happy feelgood throwaway rocker with piano of the sort we all love to hate. Still,
66.6% goodness is a more than high enough
ratio for mandatory wantlist inclusion imho.