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Rating:
The heavy-power genre proudly embraces the notorious reputation it has built for itself, acting as an impenetrable barrier for those unfamiliar with the genre. To identify an album that belongs to the aforementioned metal movement, it is usually enough to read the band's name, the song titles, or if you don’t know basic English, simply look at the flamboyant cover: all elements aimed at captivating and sparking interest towards a teenage audience. Let's move on to a concrete example: the Finnish band Pietratonante (Thunderstone) and their third album titled "Tools Of Destruction". The ghastly presentation is completed by the cover featuring a humanoid, rigorously hidden behind a skeletal mask, equipped with four arms to better handle a full set of Miracle Blade Chef Tony's third series.
If you have managed to climb over the wall I have briefly described, trust me when I say you have made it.
The Thunderstone, needless to deny, were born at the beginning of the new millennium as an offshoot of Sonata Arctica, who in their debut Ecliptica were nothing more than a better version of Stratovarius. The eponymous debut of Pietratonante therefore added nothing to Finnish power metal. However, since their second product "The Burning," they have shown their attributes by putting aside keyboards in favor of more pronounced riffing, decidedly rough and gritty vocals, and fewer fast solos. Tools Of Destruction was a surprise to my ears; a pure heavy metal CD with many granite-like mid-tempo tracks that, even after 2 years, still make me nod my head in silent and satisfied assent.
The opener ("Tool Of The Devil") starts leisurely with the bass, introducing us to a dark and gritty vocal highlighted by the heavy riff. Elegant chorus, essential without an overuse of syrupy melodies, leading to a passionate, brief, and slow solo. The whole album follows these directives with the exception of "Without Wings" and "The Last Song", which serve as a "sweetener" for the steadfast fans of the stereotypical metal made in Finland. Among the best moments of the product, I mention the epic nature of the single "I Will Come Again", with a bridge and a chorus worthy of applause without needing to use the double pedal. In "Feed The Fire", the six strings play a decisive role in creating a dark atmosphere. Laurenne's melodic but gritty and passionate voice is wonderful (do you know Jorn Lande?) and gives its best with remarkable vocal extensions in rapid succession.
I close with the suite "Land Of Innocente": a dizzying demonstration of compositional maturity. It begins delicately with a haunting soundscape of piano, broken by a crescendoing riff emulating the approach of someone's footsteps. The attention is total, and the clean singing arrives for passionate verses that harden with the addition of guitars and a progressively rougher tone... without forcing it, I find myself singing an epic chorus, with excellent backing vocal additions. The break with mini-speech is an exciting moment as it sets up for the final tail-end strike with a memorable crescendo to the melodic end.
3 and a half stars... I generously give 4.
One of the surprises of the year (2005) in the heavy metal scene for me. Melodic, rough, and powerful showcases a band in full health, totally different from their debut.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Tool of the Devil (04:04)
I am a man without a heart
Without a soul
I'll heal it for you
If you'll play my role
Come closer if you dare
I will show you the way
Of pleasure and of pain
I'm the light of your day
Walk through the fire we've made
Over the seas of our times
Higher, we're all in sublime
I'll be here by you side forever
I'll shadow your steps, again and again
We'll be changin' this scene together
Through the joy and the pain
'Cause I am the Tool of the Devil
You'll try to stay on path
Try to keep direction
While the voices in your head
Whispering deception
Your standing in the middle
Don't know what to do
I'll give you the answers
To get you through
Walk through the fire we've made
Over the seas of our times
Higher, we're all in sublime
I'll be here by you side forever
I'll shadow your steps, again and again
We'll be changin' this scene together
Through the joy and the pain
'Cause I am the Tool of the Devil
Walk through the fire we've made
Over the seas of our times
Higher, we're all in sublime
I'll be here by you side forever
I'll shadow your steps, again and again
We'll be changin' this scene together
Through the joy and the pain
'Cause I am the Tool of the Devil
I'll be here by you side forever
I'll shadow your steps, again and again
We'll be changin' this scene together
Through the joy and the pain
'Cause I am the Tool of the Devil
Tool of the Devil
Tool of the Devil
02 Without Wings (04:45)
The blood in my head burns like fire
And madness is raising it's head
Surviving, the deepest desire?
Or just an obsession instead?
I feel the pain when I see the rain
I don't have the power I need
I'm locked inside in my head and my mind
It's time to give up and concede
Without wings, I cannot fly
I'll never reach the sky above
Is this the way, the place I'll stay?
Will I be trapped forevermore?
The weight of the world on my shoulders
It's crushing my humanity
Longer I go and get older
I embrace my insanity
And now I can see, what's inside of me
Ignorance is not a virtue
I sense and I feel, frustration so real
Or is it just fake and untrue?
Without wings, I cannot fly
I'll never reach the sky above
Is this the way, the place I'll stay?
Will I be trapped forevermore?
The blood in my head burns like fire
And madness is still in my head
Life, the deepest desire?
Or just an obsession instead?
But now I can see, what's inside of me
Ignorance is a virtue?
I sense and I feel, frustration so real
Or is it just fake and untrue?
Without wings, I cannot fly
I'll never reach the sky above
Is this the way, the place I'll stay?
Will I be trapped forevermore?
07 Another Time (03:41)
Another morning, another day
Another sunset is on it's way
Another cold and sleepless night, another restless soul
Another sorrow, another fear
Another smile turns to a tear
Another undefined feeling takes over again
Do you believe?... That you can pull the strings together
Do you believe?... That you can finally find your way
Do you believe?... That you can lead your own life
Do you believe?
Another life, another death
Another birth without as breath
Another candle lights another dies away
Another peace, another war
Another cause to fight for
Another reason to stay here, or maybe another time?
Do you believe?... That you can pull the strings together
Do you believe?... That you can finally find your way
Do you believe?... That you can lead your own life
Do you believe?
The way you live
You take before you give
You'll pay the price
You'll pay it once or twice
Before you learn
You'll have to take your turn
Don't wait for another time
Another morning, another day
Another sunrise is on it's way
Another night, silent and peaceful
08 Feed the Fire (04:44)
Burn me - with your eyes of fire
Turn me - from faith to desire
Take me - across the line and through the door
Break me - make me your slave forevermore
It feels so good
TO be so bad
I'm flying ever higher
On the wings of desire
Flying too close to the wire
I'm going to take the fall
Just to Feed the Fire
Waiting - for another chance to steal your glance
Watching - you spin around like in a trance
Craving - to be close enough to feel your breath
Knowing - that this will be the kiss of death
It feels too good
To ever turn back
I'm flying ever higher...
It feels so good
To be so bad
I'm flying ever higher...
10 Land of Innocence (08:15)
Hear my story, hear my words
they might speak truth about our world
Hear me opening my heart, I've seen the years passing by
Seen them wither before they die
Only to be born again
Close your eyes, descend with me
Into the dream that we believe
That's the best we've ever had
Let your mind go with the flow
Let it fly high and low
Throw yourself into the memories
Higher, reach higher
Where all our fantasies will come true
We are heading back to our innocence
We're falling in to oblivion
Back to our innocence
We're turning the wheels of time
And living it all again
In the land of innocence
What if everything you've done
Fades away one by one
And you could start it all again
Try to make it another way
Live life to the fullest everyday
Until the circle closes again
Higher, reach higher
Where all our fantasies will come true
We are heading back to our innocence
We're falling in to oblivion
Back to our innocence
We're turning the wheels of time
And living it all again
In the land of innocence
"If I could take the reins and turn back the hands of time
Long before the womb, long before the morning light
Striving with my maker on the shoulders of the world
Lost inside a myriad... a maze that's so absurd"
Before you pass all the crossroads of life
Before you get to the end
You'll face all the pain to get the reward
The greatest of them all
Or is it vain to even dream about this again and again and again?
Does it really matter what you think?
Fantasies are made for us all
And life goes on and on
Higher, reach higher
Where all our fantasies will come true
We are heading back to our innocence
We're falling in to oblivion
Back to our innocence
We're turning the wheels of time
Back to our innocence
We're falling in to oblivion
Back to our innocence
We're turning the wheels of time
And living it all again
In the land of innocence
We are heading back to our innocence
--
Ceristimo
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