Influence is a Dutch metal band playing classic heavy metal in the style of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, well…in the style of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest? I often get the Idea that I’m listening to old Priest recordings. One can never catch Influence on being original for a single moment on this album. Even their band name is written in the Iron Maiden font.
House of the silhouettes is the band’s second full length studio recording. They totally worked it out by themselves, from the artwork to the production,(for wich I give them my compliments).

Although Influence plays music we’ve all heard a thousand times before, I must say they play it damn well. Lead singer Bas Assenbroek seems to be very much inspired to Rob Halford (listen to the, more than beautiful, power ballad ‘Black Shadow’).

But the real eye catchers of the band are definitely both guitar players Martijn de Vries and Erwin van Egmond. Both seem to be very much inspired by Iron Maiden guitarist Dave Murray, and perhaps some of you disagree but they sometime even reach his level of playing. Is it only Iron Maiden and Judas priest then? No of course not, I also hear some influences from bands as Annihilator, Merciful Fate, and Queensryche. ‘Black Shadow’ is by far the best song of the album; a beautiful power ballad, with very strong lead vocals. The band is absolutely at its best when they combine ballads with pure heavy metal.

With “House oF Silhouettes” Influence proves that it absolutely not necessary to be original or modern to create a nice metal album.