GAIA EPICUS „Satrap”

Music: Power Metal
Website: http://www.gaia-epicus.com
Country: Norway
Cool songs: Keepers Of Time, Inside The Storm, Star Wars, Watch The Sky

This Nordic power metal group was formed in 1992 and since then they’ve changed everything: starting with a name, which meant “Raw Meat” (and going through MILLENNIUM, THEATRE OF PAIN and ETERNAL FLAME) and the music they played (from punk rock, through thrash and epic metal, to finish with heavy metal). No one knows, how long will they manage to stay this way. Since that time, they’ve released six demos, and this album is their first full length composition.

“Satrap” was released in 2003, and that was a good year for power metal maniacs (just to mention GAMMA RAY release of “Skeletons In The Closet”, HELLOWEEN – “Rabbit Don’t Come Easy). “Satrap” is a good production and from the beginning till the very end it shows what a good piece of power metal should sound. The compositions are melodic and dynamic, with cool guitar riffs and nice drums lines (especially these characteristic cymbals). This album creates an impression of listening to a real epic story, full of poetry and passion – everything performed with great attention to technical details. But after a while a little gremlin slides into the speakers and makes some of the compositions sound similar. Fortunately enough, this does not interrupt and destroy the whole, because the compositions are so varied (styles, motifs, sounds) that those similarities are getting lost in the jam. The most important thing about “Satrap” is that this album is very characteristic, it has its own style, and cannot be mistaken with any other. “Keepers Of Time” is a real metal kick and this actually is the leading composition, a guide to the rest, which equals with it (in the terms of power and dynamics), but with those slight repeating syndromes in the middle. And Thomas Hansen’s vocal sounds similar to… Kai Hansen’s! And this brings back memories.

GAIA EPICUS’s “Satrap” is worth listening. This album will satisfy every power metal fan. It is full of swaps and power reinforcements. Despite of very slight predictability, it is very good.

note: 9/10

Tracklist

1. Keepers Of Time
2. Heaven's Gate
3. Fire & Ice
4. Inside The Storm
5. Die For Your King
6. Star Wars
7. Innovation
8. Cyber Future
9. Freedom Calls
10. Heavy Metal Heart
11. Watch The Sky

Total playing time 67:50

Line-up

Thomas Christian Hansen – vocals , guitar
Joakim “Jokke” Kjelstad – guitar

guests:
Morty Black – bass (TNT)
Alessandro Elide – drums ( Manifest)
Dj- Dritskummel – keyboards