To kill time during Iced Earth’s hiatus, as mastermind Jon Schaffer greets fatherhood, recuperates from yet another back surgery and writes his long-time-in-coming Egyptian conceptual masterpiece, singer Tim Owens (‘Ripper’ during his Judas Priest days) went off to form his own outfit. Backed by various players from the Northeast Ohio scene (including Winters Bane/Seven Witches bassist Dennis Hayes), the dozen tracks are a combination of his previous output, accent typically on heaviness. ‘Scream Machine’ opens the album appropriately enough, full steam ahead, all guitars blazing in the Painkiller tradition. Had he been allowed to write/contribute, ‘And…You Will Die’ might have replaced anything on Demolition (what wouldn’t have?), slower, grittier, but with the ageless Brits’ pedigree. ‘Human Race’ has a Gettysburg feel about it, musically. On the other hand, having spent time in cover bands, including one that did Disturbed tunes, ‘Save Me’ and ‘The Faith’ lean towards the modern end of things, although saved by traditionally structured solos and Owens’ piercing highs. Throughout, he sings in a normal range, just punctuating certain instances with the trademark vocal spike. As he proved with his acoustic performance at BW&BK 6-Pack Weekend, the guy doesn’t need loud music disguising his voice, as evidenced by the tame, Iced Earth-influenced ‘Dreams Come True’. Hard-edged originals also include the staccato guitars of ‘Telling Lies’, an echo chamber-begun ‘Words Of Wisdom’ and a supped-up Maiden-ish ‘My Last Words’. The later portion of the disc doesn’t quite match the initial intensity, but out of the gate, it’s an adrenaline rush.
