When I heard the orchestral strains of opening fanfare ‘Voices of Doom’, I was intrigued, and then the sonic assault of the title track hit me with such ferocity that I experienced something akin to complete sensory overload.  This track, spiced with middle eastern flourishes, a relentless guitar riff and killer chorus makes one heck of an impression.  The use of duetting male and female vocals only serves to enhance the story of a romantic clash of cultures, and on closer listening to the lyrics of the next track ‘A Better Fate’ “you earn a better fate in a better world away from mistrust; living in the danger zone out in the dust” I was briefly fooled into thinking this might be a concept album.  It isn’t.  Each song stands on its own merits.  My personal favourite ‘Blood Angel’ features a simple but seductive keyboard melody over the driving rhythm, and another chorus with a hook so sharp it will stick in your head forever and have you singing along instantly.  Wunderkind 22 year old Marco Wriedt who represents the next generation of guitar heroes delivers an impressive legato solo in the mid section.  ‘I Hear You Cry’ is a mid-paced anthem featuring delicious vocal harmony arrangements, and the ‘Fire Still Burns’ is the album’s ballad, with the theme established on the piano, only to swell to a rousing chorus with the full band and some judiciously applied saxophone.  If the guitar and keyboard duelling had been apparent up to now it reaches its peak on ‘Father Father’, a high octane Teutonic power metal classic, where Harry Oellers and Marco Wriedt fight to the death for supremacy in an inspired musical duel.  ‘Revolutions’ is built around an almost vaudeville style boogie for the first part of the verse whereas the second half is in complete contrast, as if it’s fighting against the style.  A keyboard led musical interlude provides an interesting counterpoint to the usual guitar attack.  Axxis has a long tradition with “na-na-na” choruses, and ‘She Got Nine Lifes ‘ (sic) is no exception, with lyrics that are upbeat and quirky.  ‘Devillish Belle’ is a Marco Wriedt composition with a driving rhythm that bounds along energetically, and final track ‘Astoria’ is a power metal classic with another great guitar solo and beautiful harmonies throughout. The production by Bernhard Weiss and Harry Oellers (the Scream Team!) is excellent and with Dennis Ward in the mixing chair you can only expect greatness.  If you like Teutonic power metal, then this album definitely ticks all the boxes.  It’s heavy, melodic, powerful, grandiose and bombastic and it completely blew me away.