Mythra
Still Burning
High Roller Records
2017
Mythra was one of the most cult “NWOBHM” bands with “The Death and Destiny”, when it was “fully” released considered one of the “better” examples of music from the era that didn’t really get its proper due, the first time around…
The band was reactivated in the early 2000’s and an album called “The Darkener” was released back then, directly from the band in small quantities and not quite reminiscent of the bands original style.
Fast forward almost fifteen years later and following a rather neat appearance at the KIT Fest the band struck a deal with HRR to put out an anthology as well as a new album, which is what “Still Burning” is all about…
As a matter of fact and despite the odd lineup change, the band has managed an almost complete time-travel to the early 80s stylistically, with almost all of the songs on “Still Burning”, feeling like the logical next step after “The Death and Destiny” if not a little better sounding due to the more modern recording methods employed these days. It’s a little darker and not quite as spontaneous as the 1979 recordings, but hey – did you really expect it to be almost 30 years later?
Vince High is still sounding commanding and a better, more mature vocalist that doesn’t have to resort to shrieks to get his point across. But what really sets this band apart, is their uncanny ability to very nicely lace over neat riffs with excellent choruses, something they almost do in each song here… think of a proto-Def Leppard combined with the aggression of Tokyo Blade but a bit more Geordie in its heart and you’re close.
There is lots of stuff to like here, beside the title track, “We Belong”, “Sands of Time”, “Battle Cry”, “Ride the Storm” and so on… I must admit that I was approaching this release with some trepidation, but it completely changed my mind, just right after I pushed play! Welcome back gentlemen! There’s still a fire burning...
The band was reactivated in the early 2000’s and an album called “The Darkener” was released back then, directly from the band in small quantities and not quite reminiscent of the bands original style.
Fast forward almost fifteen years later and following a rather neat appearance at the KIT Fest the band struck a deal with HRR to put out an anthology as well as a new album, which is what “Still Burning” is all about…
As a matter of fact and despite the odd lineup change, the band has managed an almost complete time-travel to the early 80s stylistically, with almost all of the songs on “Still Burning”, feeling like the logical next step after “The Death and Destiny” if not a little better sounding due to the more modern recording methods employed these days. It’s a little darker and not quite as spontaneous as the 1979 recordings, but hey – did you really expect it to be almost 30 years later?
Vince High is still sounding commanding and a better, more mature vocalist that doesn’t have to resort to shrieks to get his point across. But what really sets this band apart, is their uncanny ability to very nicely lace over neat riffs with excellent choruses, something they almost do in each song here… think of a proto-Def Leppard combined with the aggression of Tokyo Blade but a bit more Geordie in its heart and you’re close.
There is lots of stuff to like here, beside the title track, “We Belong”, “Sands of Time”, “Battle Cry”, “Ride the Storm” and so on… I must admit that I was approaching this release with some trepidation, but it completely changed my mind, just right after I pushed play! Welcome back gentlemen! There’s still a fire burning...