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Blog Categories Review CATEGORY VI - Firecry - Reviewed By obliveon!

CATEGORY VI - Firecry - Reviewed By obliveon! Thursday July 13 2023, 12:06 AM

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CATEGORY VI - Firecry - Reviewed By obliveon ! Check it out here at this link: https://obliveon.de/review/category-vi-firecry/

On March 24th, 2023 the highly anticipated third album by Canadian traditional / power metal band CATEGORY VI hit stores. The true female fronted metal band around rock singer Amanda Marie Jackman was founded in 2010 and has released two long-players (“Fireborn”, 2013 and “War Is Hell” 2017). In 2023 the Canadian power metal / classic 80's metal band finally returns and unleashes “Firecry”. The eight self-written songs range thematically from things like pride and triumph, witch hunts or the strength of women. Singer Amanda Jackman is driven by guitarist Geoff Waye, bassist Keith Jackman and drummer Brian Downton and supported with a mix of crisp power - traditional heavy metal of the 1980s and the present.

With the title track 'Firecry', CATEGORY VI open their album in the best NWOTHM style and I like it right away. The song itself deals with the topic of witch hunts, which unfortunately abounded. The cover artwork also deals with this topic. In 'Valkyrie' singer Amanda Marie ups the ante and I particularly like it. Headbangers also enjoy the neckbreaker, which certainly comes across even better live. After a short intro, CATEGORY VI really step on the gas with 'The Vultures Never Came', 'She Runs With Wolves' comes out of the speakers almost like an anthem and, like its predecessors, delivers really strong drumming and guitar playing. In the next song ('Heavy is the Crown'), heavy is not only the crowning glory, but also the joy of every True Metal fan about this album so far. Every headbanger and air guitar acrobat has a holiday during 'Coven', 'The Cradle Will Fall' sounds like a true ballad in the first few moments that shouldn't be missing. The song actually has ballad-esque moments in which that horny feminine singing voice sounds brutally emotional, but only to then hit the ground running again. Here, front woman Jackman makes it clear that True Heavy Metal is nothing, but also nothing for dolls - very ingenious what this woman can do. 'Burning Bridges' is CATEGORY VI's last own song and 'Barracuda' follows the cover version of Heart mentioned at the beginning, grab your yokel and transport yourself to 1977! in which this horny feminine singing voice sounds brutally emotional, but only to then hit the ground again. Here, front woman Jackman makes it clear that True Heavy Metal is nothing, but also nothing for dolls - very ingenious what this woman can do. 'Burning Bridges' is CATEGORY VI's last own song and 'Barracuda' follows the cover version of Heart mentioned at the beginning, grab your yoke and transport yourself to 1977! in which this horny feminine singing voice sounds brutally emotional, but only to then hit the ground again. Here, front woman Jackman makes it clear that True Heavy Metal is nothing, but also nothing for dolls - very ingenious what this woman can do. 'Burning Bridges' is CATEGORY VI's last own song and 'Barracuda' follows the cover version of Heart mentioned at the beginning, grab your yokel and transport yourself to 1977!

CATEGORY VI were completely unknown to me so far, but they are an absolute True Metal Underground tip and are really fun with “Firecry” over 43:30 minutes. I can't find a number that gets boring after listening to it 10 times, on the contrary: The better you know the songs, the more grandiose it can be rocked out, the riffs and solos celebrated or even air drums played. Authentic, intense, simply great Heavy Metal cinema, what's shooting over to us from Canada. Fans of Chastain, (an early) Lee Aaron or Warlock hit it off immediately.

Tobi Stahl awards 9 out of 10 points obliveon

Release Date: 24 March 2023

FFO: Solicitor, Smoulder, Tower

Location: Newfoundland, Canada

Bold and True Female Fronted Anthemic Canadian Power Metal / Classic 80’s Metal Combustion!!! The 1st embers sparked in the frosty Canadian Tundra of Newfoundland, Canada in 2011 when CATEGORY VI released their “Vinland” Demo. This swiftly ignited their path and their debut album “Fireborn” (2013) was unleashed in a blaze of burning Metal! Those coals were never quenched, and CATEGORY VI added fuel to the fire with their 2017 follow up Inferno “War Is Hell”.

CATEGORY VI Now returns in a full blazing firestorm with their 3rd album and most accomplished release to date “Firecry” From the initial flickering flame of “Firecry” To the final cinders of the absolutely combustible cover of HEARTS classic “Barracuda”, CATEGORY VI deliver True and classy 80’s Heavy Metal with utter perfection! “Firecry” boasts a crisp, clear and scorching modern production that does not distract from the bands True 80’s metal sound.

Lyrically crafted around themes of personal pride and triumph (Valkyrie, Heavy is the Crown), witchcraft persecution (Firecry), women’s strength (She Runs With Wolves) & their excellent live performances (Coven), these concepts are boldly and powerfully delivered by the soaring vocal excellence of Female lead singer Amanda Jackman. Bolstered and fueled by the powerful stainless steel riffs and catchy melodies of guitarist Geoff Waye, pounding anvil bass of Keith Jackman and thunderous steadfast drumming of Brian Downton, CATEGORY VI bring classy and classic 1980’s Power – Traditional Heavy Metal into the 21st century with blazing glory!

To close out one of the best Heavy Metal albums of the decade, CATEGORY VI delivers an immaculate True Metal, yet Radio friendly cover of the chart-toping Heart classic “Barracuda” With “Firecry” CATEGORY VI unleash a global scale climate changing Metal cyclone which just may melt the North American frozen tundra with their blazing Power Metal!

Check out this video!