TAROT „Suffer our Pleasures”

TAROT website www.wingsofdarkness.net

I am new to this band and this is the first music of this band that I have been able to hear. If first impressions are important then this band has nothing to worry about with me for they have me won over by the third track on this disc. There a lot of sounds that can be heard in this disc but the two main ones I hear are PRIMAL FEAR and GAMMA RAY but also a huge thick sound that goes well beyond that and that is hard to describe. There is perfection in every sound heard here. The band line up is as follows. Marco Hietala (vocals & bass) Pecu Cinnari (drums) Zachary Hietala (guitar) Janne Tolsa (keyboards). Marco has a vocal sound and style that puts him in the same company as Dickinson, Halford and Peck of CAGE. The power that Marco throws from his cords will just blow you away. Very clean and crisp but yet devastating and powerful. This man just has one hell of a voice that should be heard by all metal fans. I could sit here and break the whole thing down but I could also just sum it up with a few short words. It has been a long time since I have had a new band just blow me away like TAROT has. The guitar sound is heavy but with a clean well played edge. This is just not a bunch of fast riffs and speed but well written and well played riffs and leads that hold your attention but don’t lose you. The bass and drums supply a backdrop for Zachary’s guitar sound as well as it all laying a huge foundation for Marcos awesome vocals. This CD has been in my player more then anything as of late and I find it hard to take out.

This band has been around since 85 and began as PURGATORY. Hailing from Finland I would say they are by far the best band coming from that country right now. This being there sixth release. There was a five year span between there last disc and this one due to a couple side projects by Marco Hietala (SINERGY & NIGHTWISH) but with a little push from there record label the guys got back in the swing of things and produced what I would consider a CD of the year candidate for me. Any fan of metal in the vain of HALFORD, PRIMAL FEAR, and GAMMA RAY mixed with a heavy chest thumping beat will love this Disc. It will be hard for them to top this one but I am looking forward to seeing if they can pull it off. This is a must have for any serious metal fan.

note: 10 out of 10