FORCES AT WORK / STRAIGHT (2012)

Forces At Work (http://www.forcesatwork.de/index.html) is a band from Wuppertal, Germany, and this is their debut album after twelve years of excistence!! Their three demos-cds were the first great example of who are Forces At Work and they received great reviews especially for demo number three which was titled "Reverse Feng Shui Audio Guide".



On the new album, singer Sebastian Wischermann (ex-RAW) is the center of attention with his powerfull but still melodic vocal performances as well as the huge guitar work! The track which opens this release is the instrumental "Straight Into The Odd" and it's a damn fine tune!! The skills of the great Adrian Weiss are reflected to this tune and the heavy riffs are perfectly balanced with some jazz elements. Track number two, "Sickness", and this time the band offers a heavy (almost thrasy!!!!) in-your-face song with aggressive vocals. "Dharma" features some more technical arrangements with a huge solo!! The only low point, imo, so far are the 'brutal' vocal performances that spoil a bit the tracks! "Colours" is an ok tune and "Virtual Fuhrer" is a song that will put a big smile to every old-school thrashy fan. The next songs are all in the same in-your-face style with aggressive vocal performances, some really great technical parts and Weiss' amazing guitar work.

All in all, this is an album for the heavier fans only!!! If you are looking for some melodies, heavenly keyboards that take you to heaven and ' a boy meets girl' story, then this album isn't for you!! If you wanna something for headbangin' with aggressive, sometimes 'brutal', vocals, punchy and technical guitars and power then look no further....Forces At Work's "Straight'  is your album. 
Heavy Paradise's Rating : 7/10