Maybe someone still remembers the US based Heavy Metal outfit OVERLODE. They released an self-titled EP back in 1987, which earned some attention. Then there was a longer pause, but by the time of their debut “Return Of The Snow Giant” in 2004 and their appearance at the Keep It True festival one year later, OVERLORDE had become one of the most important representatives of US Heavy Metal. After that there was silence again and now the band, with a few line-up changes, is back. With their debut the band set the bar pretty high and unfortunately one has to say that the entire playing time can not maintain the level of the first full-length. The album starts off quite quickly with the title song ‘Awaken The Fury’, which impresses with dynamic songwriting, catchy riffs, alternating vocals and typical Epic Metal choirs. As the album progresses, the riffs lose a lot of energy, the songs babble along and everything does not really seem coherent. For my ears there are a bit too much different influences, making the 50 minutes of playing time quite demanding. Combining the Epic Metal in the vein of early MANOWAR with IRON MAIDEN of the “Brave New World” era, some Thrash Metal influences of newer METALLICA plus both progressive elements of PSYCHOTIC WALTZ and very early BLACK SABBATH – no easy listening here! Whereby I am pretty sure that the planet Heavy Metal is big enough for this crude mixture to find its fans. If you would like to find out now whether or not you are one of them, please visit www.facebook.com/overlorde or www.facebook.com/noremorserecordsgreece