Being among many of the prestigious German bands to really break with a successful following among Metal fans, with nearly two decades in the Metal scene abroad, not to mention ten records ("Instinct" being their tenth),
Victory have returned with their original line up, after years of taking an on and off hiatus, giving us one kick ass record.
Well obviously these guys have a track record in the Metal world creating an album that blends nearly the whole spectrum of melodic Metal in the sense that creates diversity within the record, eliminating redundancy within the song transitions, and incorporating their own style among their influences; to sum it up, it's a monster record with just about every song being different complete with lyrics that have a more of a cynical take on instances that relate to all of us.
"Instinct" starts out with
"Running Scared," almost sounding like a Power Metal cut, with the tight rhythmic structure, but yet the song shies away from any of the derividant cheese factors that plague many Power Metal bands, so it's like, alright, these guys are heading into the more or less stripped down Metal sound with a more eased technical element, which is their way of letting us know that this is going to be one powerful record. With the cuts
"Plastic Hero" (a comical take on the whole "American Idol" type reality shows polluting the airwaves) and
"Victoria's Secrets," "Instinct" takes the turn with more an old school metal sound.
"Another Notch in the Bedpost" is proof that these guys listen to AC/DC, with the guitars rangling on Angus Young type riffs the whole drumbeat sounding like a long lost cut from
"High Voltage." "Starman" and
"Riding Low" showcase
Victory's respect for more groove oriented material while
"See the Light" has the classic
Saxon feel to it; but yet there is one moody cut that graces "Instinct,"
"Enemy" is the darkish counterpoint to the records otherwise upbeat sound, filled with staccato guitar chords dancing along with the whole gloomed atmosphere that is brought forth with this opus.
Victory in general, mixes their balance of songwriting and musicianship (such diversity found in the different guitar techniques and varying drum patterns used throughout the record) without going completely overboard on the production (which is done in a great manner); with the melody taking center stage here. I can bet that these guys are extremely tight when they are performing live. The sound of the group overall is in relation to modern day Maiden, crossed with more recent
Saxon material (even the vocals sound like Byford's), with maybe a little bit of TNT's and Lillian Axe's melodic prowess. Yet another one of this years most down-to-earth Metal records.
Written by
Hashman Monday, September 29, 2003
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