CoC : Airged Lamh - A Vertigo Edda Arised : Review

Airged Lamh - _A Vertigo Edda Arised_
by: Alvin Wee (4 out of 5)

Formed in 1987 and having written music and played live together in Greece for the past 10 years, Airged Lamh could be considered veterans. Playing a mix of power, epic and folk metal, AL have emerged with their first(!) demo. Boasting 30 minutes and an unbelievably well-printed booklet, it's hard to see AL remaining independent for much longer. With influences ranging from Blind Guardian and Iced Earth to viking-era Bathory as well as pure folk ("Wedding Song"), every song is a piece of engaging power metal. While rip-offs are inevitable (Iced Earth riff in "The Vision Revealed" and Bathory styling in "Ragnarok"), no one's complaining when it's done so well. The only gripe I have is with the vocalist. Despite valient efforts, John Georgopoulos just can't pull off the higher and more powerful parts, and debts to Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian) and Quorthorn are too obvious. Still, you can't fault the man for trying, and with a little improvement, his somewhat ineffective pronunciation could be overlooked. If you like your metal the way BG or Gamma Ray serve it, then this one should be your mug of ale. The production alone is worth the $7.

Contact: Mickael Perantinos, Karneadoy 39, Ilioypoli 163 41

(article published 5/2/1997)