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Review: Züül - To the Frontlines
Züül
www.facebook.com/zuulheavymetal
To the Frontlines

Label: High Roller Records
Year released: 2012
Duration: 43:58
Tracks: 9
Genre: Heavy Metal

Rating:
3.75/5


Review online: December 31, 2012
Reviewed by: MetalMike
Readers' Rating
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Rated 4.07/5 (81.43%) (28 Votes)
Review

To the Frontlines really hits the spot. It is no secret around The Metal Crypt that I am a huge Züül fan. After their excellent debut, Out of Time, I had high hopes for their sophomore effort (not counting the less-than-stellar "Howl of the Wolf" single). To the Frontlines is a solid follow-up, capturing the same NWOBHM essences that characterized the debut; high energy, up-tempo, no frills Heavy Metal. There's no screwing around with politics or Satanism or any of that crap, just songs about warriors, girls and the Heavy Metal lifestyle. The production is muddy, but in the classic NWOBHM style, a hallmark of so many famous, and infamous, albums from the 80s. The band sounds like they are banging away in some run-down club but with enough energy and determination to fill an arena.

To the Frontlines starts big, with catchy tracks like "Show No Mercy" and "Guillotine." You'll be singing the choruses even as the riffs knock you on your ass. Züül are at their best when the tempo is speedy. They go for a slower, epic atmosphere on "Bounty Land," and I give them credit for trying something different, but it doesn't work and song wears out its welcome before its 7 minutes are up. Songwriting isn't quite as good on To the Frontlines, so I will give an edge to the debut. Even so, fans of old-school Heavy Metal need to check out Züül pronto.

More about Züül...
Review: Howl of the Wolf (reviewed by MetalMike)
Review: Out of Time (reviewed by Hermer Arroyo)
Review: Out of Time (reviewed by MetalMike)
Review: To the Frontlines (reviewed by Luxi Lahtinen)
Review: To the Frontlines (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
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