Hank Shermann (ex-Mercyful Fate) and Michael Denner team up for a new metal onslaught that should get the old school metal fan’s true blood flowing. At least that’s what you would expect. Unfortunately, reality is slightly different. Not that this is a bad album. Somehow it all sounds terribly lacklustre. You know, like the sound of metal bands in the nineties? It’s not even so surprising when one after the other melody seems to sound dangerously familiar. The moment Force Of Evil starts with the slow pounding “Eternity” I can’t believe my ears; it sounds like a total copy of Metallica’s crappy Black album.

I hate to say it, but I expected a bit more from these musicians. On the entire album I hear familiar parts; a touch of Savatage here, a touch of Metallica there and even some Megadeth. Of course Mercyful Fate (listen for instance to “Fountain Of Grace”) isn’t lacking either, but that’s natural and to be expected.

I wish Force Of Evil would have sounded more like Mercyful Fate. A whole lot of complaints I’m afraid, but the thing that truly ruins any redeeming qualities of this CD is the terrible production. It is flat with a guitar sound that is just too soft. When a band has such killer riffs they should sound KILLER, not without balls.

I can hear you ask yourselves: an album gone to waste then? Well, not necessarily. First of all the vocals are excellent and they manage to save this album, at least for a bit. Furthermore, the songs are still pretty decent with good riffs and if you forget the lack of originality and all other shit, that we demanding listeners these days want to hear, then it’s pretty decent metal. I can advice Force Of Evil to anyone who is bored with all the modern MTV metal out there and wants to relive the good old days. Because face it people, these guys play the genuine thing.