SILENT FORCE

The album "Infatuator" was released in October 2001, roughly a year and a half after the debut "The Empire Of Future." The first thing that catches your attention is that the speed-power metal epidemic in the vein of JUDAS PRIEST's "Painkiller" did not pass SILENT FORCE by. They joined the ranks already occupied by GAMMA RAY, who released a similar album in the same year 2001, PRIMAL FEAR, who lean on Priest throughout virtually their entire body of work, and several other bands. About a third of the compositions on "Infatuator" are crafted in precisely this spirit. Several more tracks are melodic power metal blending German and Scandinavian traditions. Finally, the album is capped off with a ballad and an epic instrumental. Special attention is deserved by a very solid cover of Priest's "All Guns Blazing" from that very same notorious "Painkiller." Also quite noteworthy is the trilogy in the middle of the album, which includes what may be the album's strongest composition, "Gladiator." However, overall the band lost a great deal of their original identity. The keyboards received an entirely unnecessary emphasis, and most importantly, DC Cooper's vocal capabilities are completely underutilized here. He certainly handles the high parts excellently, but the vocals are generally assigned a less than expressive role — and for such a distinctive and compelling vocalist as Cooper, this decision cannot be called the right one. Overall, compared to the debut, one can speak of regression and a certain loss of individuality. The disc also features two short videos, one of which is a special bonus of the new edition.