WHITE SKULL
"Public
Glory, Secret Agony" (Breaker/Radiation)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Judging from the cover and the opening intro, one might think that White Skull's "Public Glory, Secret Agony" was a cross between Iron Maiden's "Powerslave" and Dio's "The Last In Line."
One wouldn't be far off.
With "Public Glory," Italy's White Skull has produced a raging metal record with its heart set firmly in the Roman Empire and the mummified region of Egypt. With songs like "Greedy Rome," "Anubis the Jackal" and "Cleopathra" it isn't hard to tell which direction this band is heading in. Track 5, "In Caesar We Truast" takes the sound to a whole new level. It isn't so much a single song as a production piece, complete with background sound effects and more.
With a vicious guitar attack and songwriting that can't help but bring to mind the above-mentioned Dio and Iron Maiden, as well as bands such as Helloween, Grim Reaper and - believe it or not - Rammstein. "Public Glory" won't disappoint even the most extreme pure metal fan. And female lead vocalist Ferrara Francesca delivers the goods as well, adding not only a unique femanine sound to the tunes herein, but adding an edge that tells you uneviqocally that you're not listening to the Bangles. Her voice is razor sharp, screamingly powerful and to the point. It grabs you from the first line.
"Public Glory, Secret Agony" was made to be played at maximum volume and there's an obvious reason why: It's maximum rock'n'roll.
For more information, check out http://www.whiteskull.it.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2002 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 30 Sep 2024 15:31:16 -0400.
