Sparta
Welcome to Hell
High Roller Records
2014
“Welcome to Hell” is the official debut album of Sparta (previously known as Xerox), after an all-encompassing 25 song anthology that came out in 2011 under the general title “Use Your Weapons Well” and featured songs spanning the bands entire career from 1979 right to when they decided to absolutely call it a day in 1990.
The band sort of got together a good portion of its original core and appears to be in decent form, although Karl Reders voice that was always rather rough, now sounds a bit rougher, but after a few songs, he seems more acclimatized and “warmed up” and delivering the goods.
Musically, its rock ‘n roll inspired NWOBHM, that occasionally has a flair for the epic, the opening self-titled track, is pretty OK, but not, exactly amazing, maybe because “it a bit too yobish” and because Reders doesn’t seem in gear just yet. However on the “reprise” of their own old “B-side” “Angel of Death” (Jesus they didn’t record an “AOD” too, did they?! Typical...! Slayer, Angelwitch, Thin Lizzy, Hawkwind and who knows how many others… I could possibly come up with another 50 “AODs” easily). Things get much better!
“Time” as well the subsequent song is also a keeper, with its hypnotizing riffs and towering verses.
“Soldier of Fortune” doesn’t disappoint, either, but I’d say it probably just plays it safe by going for an epic tone and a slightly psychedelic mid-tempo, middle, section before it reprises its chorus.
“Wild Night” is decidedly more “spunky” and “rocking” and while its chorus has a certain charm the whole….is rather lacking...
“Dreaming of Evil” tries too hard to get somewhere… to sound theatrical or threatening or “evil”... but ultimately… fails, because it just fails to achieve its purpose within its 5 minutes... it does have a nice guitar idea but that's about it…
“Arrow” allegedly is an old tune, that was never finished – before now, and it’s not about anything epic, but just about getting up and close to a lady as quickly as an “arrow” :D
“Rock ‘n Roll Rebel” is a typical pastiche of band and song names with a half ropey chorus and a semi convincing riff – to celebrate rock ‘n roll. I suppose it’s not the worst song in that style, but the vocal delivery of Karl on this is far from his best on the album.
Last but not lest there’s “Kingdom of the Sky” a rather mounting and epic six plus minute song with soft intros and outros that seems as a good enough closer as any to this album.
As a whole, it’s a decent effort, but not something that will set the world on fire. It will please longtime fans of the band; it carries them without embarrassing them while containing a handful of pretty good numbers.
The band sort of got together a good portion of its original core and appears to be in decent form, although Karl Reders voice that was always rather rough, now sounds a bit rougher, but after a few songs, he seems more acclimatized and “warmed up” and delivering the goods.
Musically, its rock ‘n roll inspired NWOBHM, that occasionally has a flair for the epic, the opening self-titled track, is pretty OK, but not, exactly amazing, maybe because “it a bit too yobish” and because Reders doesn’t seem in gear just yet. However on the “reprise” of their own old “B-side” “Angel of Death” (Jesus they didn’t record an “AOD” too, did they?! Typical...! Slayer, Angelwitch, Thin Lizzy, Hawkwind and who knows how many others… I could possibly come up with another 50 “AODs” easily). Things get much better!
“Time” as well the subsequent song is also a keeper, with its hypnotizing riffs and towering verses.
“Soldier of Fortune” doesn’t disappoint, either, but I’d say it probably just plays it safe by going for an epic tone and a slightly psychedelic mid-tempo, middle, section before it reprises its chorus.
“Wild Night” is decidedly more “spunky” and “rocking” and while its chorus has a certain charm the whole….is rather lacking...
“Dreaming of Evil” tries too hard to get somewhere… to sound theatrical or threatening or “evil”... but ultimately… fails, because it just fails to achieve its purpose within its 5 minutes... it does have a nice guitar idea but that's about it…
“Arrow” allegedly is an old tune, that was never finished – before now, and it’s not about anything epic, but just about getting up and close to a lady as quickly as an “arrow” :D
“Rock ‘n Roll Rebel” is a typical pastiche of band and song names with a half ropey chorus and a semi convincing riff – to celebrate rock ‘n roll. I suppose it’s not the worst song in that style, but the vocal delivery of Karl on this is far from his best on the album.
Last but not lest there’s “Kingdom of the Sky” a rather mounting and epic six plus minute song with soft intros and outros that seems as a good enough closer as any to this album.
As a whole, it’s a decent effort, but not something that will set the world on fire. It will please longtime fans of the band; it carries them without embarrassing them while containing a handful of pretty good numbers.