Ostrogoth
Ecstasy and Danger

Belgium.

A nation that, like Canada and a few others, in the 1980s had few but excellent and capable heavy metal bands. The Belgian groups that managed to stand out are Acid with "Black Car," Killer with "Ready For Hell," Crossfire, and notably Ostrogoth with "Ecstasy & Danger." The latter achieved good success, formed in 1976, and in 1983 they released "Full Moon's Eyes," containing four songs, among which "Rock Forever" and the title track stand out. The lineup consists of Marc De Brauwer on vocals, June Martins and Hans Van De Kerckoche on guitars, Marnix Va Der Kauter on bass, and Mario Pauwels on drums.

In 1984 they recorded "Ecstasy And Danger," which steered the band towards the classic British metal patterns and also some sounds reminiscent of Anvil & Co. The album contains eight tracks, all played with great skill and passion, managing to captivate the listener from the very first notes. The lengthy opener "Queen Of Desire", after the guitar virtuosity, is an electric shock that drives you crazy second by second, managing to capture you with its epicness and the singer's sharp voice. After the metallic solos, the song veers towards more melodious and less intense sounds, enriched by the charismatic and communicative voice of the vocalist. Then it returns to fast, frenetic rhythms, inaugurating in the best way Ostrogoth's second work. The title track has a strong N.W.O.B.H.M. fragrance and becomes very interesting, the typical period breaks and melodic slant are abundantly present, also combined with some dark sounds. The refrain expresses all its grit, in short, the classic 80s heavy metal piece that manages to stick in your mind for days and days. Simply sublime!

"A Bitch Again" closely resembles "Son Of A Bitch" by Accept while the fourth song "Stormbringer" is a real punch in the teeth. A track where the quintet manages to perfectly combine the speed of Exciter and the sparkling British metal of Satan. "Scream Out" is a pure metal ride that, perhaps, may not be very original, but with its energy manages to keep the album's level high. The instrumental "Lords Of Thunder" is very interesting, thanks to the presence of keyboards that, around the second minute, give the song an incredibly dark and symphonic attitude. "The New Generation" is opened by quite Maidenesque riffs, while the rest of the track features a truly on-form De Brauwer, who adds a touch of originality and extra passion to all the pieces, while the solos by Martins and Van De Kerckohe are impeccable. The album concludes with the emotional ballad "Do It Right", which, thanks to the poignant melody and rather melancholic tone, even brings a few final tears. Truly wonderful! In short, a song that has the task of closing in the best possible way this, by now, almost unfindable 80s metal work.

QUEEN OF DESIRE!!