CROSSBOW „Break The Ice”

Music: Power Metal
Website: http://www.crossbow-world.de
Country: Germany
Cool songs: One Way, Break the Ice, Mind Ripper Returns, American Idol

After five years, together in one line up, CROSSBOW finally released their first full length album, titled ‘Break the Ice’. This raw piece of rude power metal was something, that the German public was waiting for. As they described their music as a brutal ad powerful play, just like the world which we all live in, I found myself a little bit confused, because I think that world is much more interesting, than this release.

From the very beginning to the ears of the listener come the depressing and lazy sounds of CROSSBOW. The beginning of the album is a real killer, it can really make people sick of their music, they can even make people doubt in power metal! But the relief comes quite quickly in ‘Break The Ice’. After pathetic and depressing sounds in ‘One Way’, the title track is a real masterpiece, to which one listens with pleasure, still having in memory that dumb beginning. The double guitar riffs sound nicely, but on the other hand they create some sort of a lazy atmosphere, which dulls the listener, brings tiredness. ‘Devil Knows (My Name)’ calms the situation too much, can put in a coma. Finally, ‘Mind Ripper Returns’ will wake you up and from now on, it is better to stay awake, because the rest of the album is better, than the beginning. What disappoints is the repetition of sounds and ideas: when played parallel, the songs would sound very much alike. I can understand that some bands have got a certain style, but this does not mean, that they can repeat themselves in every single song.

This album is a weaker proposition on the music scene. Depressing in sound, poor in content and ideas, Xerox-like and what is more, sounding as if it had been recorded in a trash bin. This crossbow needs new strings, unless it wants to shoot more accurately.

note: 4/10

Tracklist

1.Like a Vampire
2. One Way
3. Break the Ice
4. Devil Knows (My Name)
5. Mind Ripper Returns
6. Swallow My Tears
7. A New Queen
8. American Idol
9. Hope
10. Into the Mirror Black
11. Feel Your Pain

Total playing time 60:35

Line-up

David Ivanov – vocals
Alfred Tietz – guitars
Martin Chwalczyk – bass
Stefan Kautsch – drums
Ralf Bongers – lead guitars