Following an introductory intergalactic warning, ‘Planet Crusher’ jumps from the speakers, all guns blazing (in fact, tempo and balls-out delivery recall the Judas Priest track of that same name). Overall, there’s little respite within the 11 proper tunes (disc ends with an open-ended conversation between God/Devil and the concept’s protagonist, a human imbued with the knowledge/power of a god, who takes a historical journey witnessing mankind eliminate itself from the universe). Seriously doubt Cage could survive playing this album in its entirety, such is the relentless onslaught of speed and intensity. Double bass, twin guitars: double your pleasure, double your fun! Sean Peck tones down his forceful shout/wail on sections of ‘Stranger In Black’ and ‘Scarlet Witch’ (can’t get Savatage’s ‘White Witch’ out of my head, a band inexorably linked with Cage), opting to concentrate on (new-found) singing skills. Fret not, elsewhere he’s the frenetic madman we’ve come to expect. Witness a blistering ‘Speed Kills’, a track debuted to me in a Florida hotel room more than a year ago. The fact ‘Black River Falls’ deals with children makes it all the more sinister, Peck employing his imitation King Diamond voice (as heard on Hell Destroyer’s bonus track). ‘Operation Overlord’ recalls the WWII invasion of D-Day, an honour to those that die, utilizing news reel voiceovers as introduction and to close. The chorus on ‘Power Of A God’ contains keyboard snippets. The 2:11 intermezzo ‘Spectre Of War’ begins with clean subdued vocals and leads into the full-bore shredder of a title cut.
