Reviews

Now the Metallica comparison I’m not so sure about- and there’s no mention of the Megadeth influence- but if you like your music heavy and metal, then you can be sure to like this band.

This ten tracker spans across several genres, but having given this album your best listening ear, you’re bound to find each one is a favourite – for different reasons.

Opener ‘You see the light’ kicks in with some classic heavy guitars and from the word go- its pretty clear you’re going to get metal all the way! Two minutes into the song, we find our first solo – and then you know where it’s at! Track two, ‘Where to Hide (suicide)’ kicks in with a riff that could easily be in the top 100 of all time, and then to rock, with a fabulous solo that practically blows you away. The vocals on all tracks are strong, clear and truly rocking. With Steve on backing for the majority, they also feature some great harmonies and they work perfectly. It’s probably not possible to actually define it- you’ve got to hear it yourself. But perhaps the nearest is a similarity to Mustaine, yet slightly deeper, and a small element of Axl. However, Lakis clearly has his own excellent sound- he doesn’t need to imitate.

The next track has a slightly calmer start- but don’t let that fool you! Give it a few seconds and ‘Futile Dream’ really kicks in. What more can I say? Guitar harmony and solos galore, and as with the previous tracks, a good heavy close… which leads into the fast and heavy opening of ‘…13 shades of Insanity’.

Once again, guitar harmonies here, but at the close of this track, the rhythm section really shines through. You’ll find yourself with a blasting earful of Rob’s double bass drumming, and with another of Laura’s superb bass lines, you’re hard to pushed to anything other than mosh like a crazy person until the stunning closing riffs.

With the opening of ‘Parasitic’, track 5, you’ll probably be expecting the usual throughout, and indeed, it appears you’re going to get it- especially with a particularly stunning solo. BUT as the climax of the song approaches, the tempo slows and we clap our ears round the melodic keyboard notes, which challenge our expectations, yet fail to disappoint.

The keyboards carry on into track 6, ‘Time takes no pain’. With an album which thus far, has truly ‘rocked’, the reaching of a slower element was probably not expected. However, it’s quite clear that what ever Area 54 plays, and at whatever tempo, it’s done with skill and true passion.

Having given us a small rest, its time to pick up speed again – and this is done stunningly with the dramatic opening of ‘Overload’. Riffs galore, which are sure to induce a mosh frenzy! Once again, an undoubtedly classic track.

‘Missing time’ leads straight in. Every great metal band should write an instrumental track – and here is Area 54’s own. With all the usual features, but the absence of lyrics, it allows us to truly concentrate on the skill of the musical individuals that have come together to create this greatness.

When the 3^rd verse of ‘The face of all your Fears’ kicks in, you’ll be forgiven for feeling a little surprised. Here we have superb death style vocals that appear apparently out of nowhere but suit the band perfectly, particularly with the speed of the drumming! It ends with a deep and dark growl of ‘I am your fear’ and moves quickly into the closing track’s fabulous opening riffage.

‘And the Last Embrace’ could again be a little more than you expected, having listened to the more traditional (yet equally awesome) opening tracks. The usual fantastic riffs and harmonies are within and throughout, yet there’s still a few surprises left. Once again Rob’s drumming shows clearly his speed and skill, but as we are expecting the album to reach a soloing close (which it does a few minutes later), along comes Laura - and a stunning narration. Without going into detail, the underlying theme of this song comes through in the clarity of the narration, and once again Area 54 have introduced us to something unexpected, while, as with the rest of the album, carrying it out with the utmost talent and creativity.

Throughout the album, the lyrics are deep and powerful. To a certain extent, anyone taking the time to really study the booklet, will find something that they can identify with, and this only adds to what has already been created by the music. If you like your music – you’re going to love this; if you like lyrics you can identify with- you’re going to love this; and if you like both – then you’re going to be obsessed!

Throughout ‘No Visible Scars’, there are clear indicators of many of their influences, yet somewhere within, they have added their own touch of magic that is the uniqueness of Area 54’s sound.

They may be young, dyed and pierced, but they truly know how to ROCK, and they’ve got the talent to carry it through as the next generation of British Heavy Metal.

If you happen not to have bought this album, then you can purchase it via the website (see links page), from MG, or via the online store at http://www.ultimatemetal.com. It is also available from HMV and Virgin. If they don’t have it available, it should be possible to order it using order number CRIDE 22. However, you’ll probably find it’s cheaper to buy direct from the band.

Area 54 first came to my attention in January of this year.
Being a huge Blaze fan I was checking out a few reviews of some of the Blaze gigs I hadn't been able to get too and saw mention of a band by the name of Area 54, from what the reviewers had to say this band sounded interesting so off I surfed to find their website and discover a little more.

Once at www.area54.co.uk I discovered a few samples of their 'No Visible Scars' album to download and impressive they were, so impressive in fact that I shot off into Leicester during my lunch hour and purchased the album.
The band consists of four members Lakis Kyriacou (lead & rhythm guitar, vocals), Laura Salmon (bass), Rob Hillman (drums) and Steve Martin (lead & rhythm guitar), Steve replaced original guitarist Adrian Longley who left the band in Sept 2000 due to musical differences. The band draws their influences from various areas of the metal world. Comparisons have been made with Iron Maiden, Megadeth and Guns 'N' Roses but in my opinion the band create their own style and sound from these influences.

Their debut album 'No Visible Scars' is a cracking debut, I'm no music journo but I know what I like and this album is getting hammered on the stereo.
The album kicks in with 'You See The Light' a faced paced rocker of a track with a very addictive chorus, after which follows one of my favourite tracks ' Where to Hide (Suicide) another pulsating track with a great guitar solo that just screams to be blasted out of those speakers at volume. Another cracking track has to be 'The Face of All Your Fears' an excellent heavy track epitomised by Robs furious drumming, and some seriously heavy vocal lines not unlike 'Gothic' era Paradise Lost that really works on this track. The final track I will pick out is the stand out track for me, 'And The Last Embrace' again this track features some fast and furious Rob Hillman drumming and some excellent guitar work, this band really can blend the melodies of Iron Maiden with the heaviness of bands like Megadeth and make it work well. The tracks I have singled out are my personal favourites but that said every other track on this album has a hook to it that makes picking favourites a real task (what the hell the whole album is excellent in my opinion!).

If you like real metal but want to hear it brought up to date with a fresh enthusiasm then check these guys and gal out You Shouldn't Be Disappointed!

Nomad.

Area 54 No Visible Scars (DreamCatcher 2000)