Starting with an Ennio Morricone – like fast, galloping instrumental that ends with some “AA-OOO” screams reminding the listener of the film “300”, CRUEL FORCE launch themselves into ‘At The Dawn Of The Axe’. This second track already dictates a clear line of approach: the sound of DESASTER (who, like CRUEL FORCE, are from the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany) not just resonates here but can be considered the main inspiration behind the sound of this album. This also goes for the third song, ‘Night Of Thunder’. CRUEL FORCE, however, are less raw-sounding than DESASTER and more melodic. ‘Death Rides The Sky’ and ‘Devil’s Dungeon’ show yet another facet of the Speed Metal spectrum as they sound a bit more like traditional Power Metal. Here, one is reminded of another band from southwestern Germany, METAL INQUISITOR; older HELLOWEEN or even old METALLICA can be found amongst the ingredients to this song as well. ‘Watchtower Of Abra’ fits into this part of the album as it is a melodic, dark instrumental. ‘Across The Styx’ is a fast neckbreaker and maybe the song which is closest to the sound of other young German Speed Metal bands such as VULTURE or NOCTURNAL (a band two CRUEL FORCE members also once were part of). The final two tracks, ‘Power Surge’ and ‘Realm Of Sands’, are back with DESASTER’s sound characteristics again. The latter in particular is highly recommendable and perhaps the album’s best song (apart from the title track). It has a lot to offer – fast guitars and epic melodies, some “300” – like shouts and a short but good melodic outro. CRUEL FORCE clearly have done all their old school Metal homework. On their third full-length album, they deliver well-played Speed Metal (or blackened Thrash Metal), yet without quite reaching the quality of bands like DESASTER or DESTRÖYER 666 – then again, these other fellows have been around a lot longer. To conclude with a “300” reference: when asked, “Cruel Force, what’s your profession?”, these guys would certainly not answer, “We’re a band”, or even “AA-OOO”. They would say, “SPEED METAL”! More information you will find at www.facebook.com/cruelforce or www.facebook.com/shadowkingdomrecords