Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 08/15/2000
This analogy may be a tad obscure for most people to grasp (but then again, maybe not if you've made it this far), but in terms of mid-'80s Seattle
metal terms, one could say that
Fifth Angel was the
Saxon to
Queensrÿche's
Iron Maiden. It's a stretch, but, like
Queensrÿche,
Fifth Angel delved in classic
metal deeply steeped in the
New Wave of British Heavy Metal style. And, on this, their eponymous release (confusingly reissued by
Epic almost two years later), the band boasted admirable technical chops while wheeling out solid
metal anthems like
"In the Fallout" (sounding like a
Saxon outtake, but a good one at that),
"Fifth Angel," and the majestic
"Wings of Destiny." Unlike
Queensrÿche, however, they never had a chance to develop their sound, despite showing a keen eye for the commercial
metal conventions of the time (see their pretty outfits and well-sculpted hair). Still, for fans of American-made classic
metal, this remains an important work worth seeking out.
~Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide
;)
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