This one’s more New Wave of Dutch heavy Metal than NWOBHM….Vengeance formed around 30 years ago (so that’s your NWOBHM link tenuous as it may be) in Holland. Founder-member Leon Goewie is still here with his monster voice, great range and distinctive growls. If you are not familiar with Vengeance perhaps you may be more familiar with Arjen Lucassesen. He was around in the band back then before going on to conquer the prog rock/metal scene. But back to Crystal Eye via a brief history lesson.
The original Vengeance were a bit of a legend in Euro Metal terms. Poweful heavy rock songs with great hooks and soaring solos. Arabia is considered their classic album. All the early stuff is very hard to find these days though. After they broke up for the first time there was an abortive comeback which spawned Back From Flight 19 then more wilderness years. Goewie never gave up and got things moving again about five years ago with Back in the Ring followed up by Soul Collector – both impressive recordings.
Then Vengeance was thrown in to turmoil once again with the untimely death of guitarist Jan Somers. Would that mean the end………..hell no! Goewie has kept the ship running and recruited a mighty fine crew indeed to record Crystal Eye. Dedicated to the late Somers, his son Timo handles guitars along with Michael Voss (Mad Max, Schenker), drummer Chris Slade (Uriah Heep, AC/DC and others) and on the bass Chris Glen (Alex Harvey Band, Schenker). Some line-up huh. And what a monster they’ve recorded.
The crunching Me And You kicks things off then it’s high octane stuff all the way. The hooks, solos, chorus lines you’ll be singing all come constantly with a thunderous drumming show from Slade omnipresent. Arjen Lucassen wrote the music for the title track and that’s probably the best on the album (though hard to pick a best, they are all so good) with it’s slowish build up to the crescendo you know is coming.
If you like your classic heavy rock to grab you from the first powerchord, riff you in to oblivion have outstanding solos and have you nodding your head and tapping your foot throughout then this album is for you. And Goewie is on top form too with a soaring, anthemic vocal performance full of power and range. You’ll play it again and again. And if you’re a long-time fan who remembers the Arabia era you’ll think you’re right back there.
Crystal Eye is so good it should sell mega-millions and put Vengeance in Enormodomes – but sadly it probably won’t. I’m generally a bit picky about what I lavish such gushing praise on and even allowing for a little bit of “I’m a big fan so they can’t do any wrong” Vengeance have an instant classic with Crystal Eye.
Speaking prior to release, Goewie said: “”I’ve listened to the new tracks a couple of times now and consider this the most professional album I’ve ever done. The fun and humour which are typical of Vengeance are all there on “Crystal Eye”, but in addition, the material is perceptibly more serious, which I feel really suits Vengeance mark 2012.”
It is certainly all that in my opinion. Leon – if you read this, how about some UK tour dates?
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