Immortal
Artist:  Hero
Label: Retroactive Records
Time: 9 tracks/43:06 min.

I think I know what is wrong with the kids in America these days.  You see, the sticker on the front of the new album by Hero, titled Immortal, proudly declares that the leader of Hero runs a real life School of Rock in Sweden.  That's it right there.  In Sweden, kids get a real School of Rock.  In America, we give them Hanna Montana the Movie and The Jonas Brothers.  No wonder the kids these days don't know how to rock!

All silliness aside, this is some serious metal music.  If these guys run a school of rock, sign me up for classes right now.  Influences are pretty varied on this release. I would say that if you took all the bands that influenced Firewind and all the bands that influenced Rob Rock, threw them in a blender and blended until almost smooth (leaving a few noticeable chunks of progressive metal and maybe a few other styles here and there) ­ you would have the sound of Hero.

That's not to say that the album sounds the same from start to finish.  Several of those "chunks" of other styles are easily noticeable here and there.  Some death metal growls pop up here and there.  Some songs have clean guitars, some have a nice crunch ("Gasoline" has a particularly sweet crunch).  Songs like "Imagine This" slow things down with some acoustic guitars.  I still haven't figured out how to describe "Rock the World" ­ it seems like a prog-metal band trying to cover a Foreigner song... or something like that.

All of the musicians on this album are obviously skilled at what they do.  After several listens, I still haven't found a single misstep in the execution of any instrument or in any part of the vocal delivery.  It all really comes down to whether you like this style or not.  Immortal is a very consistent disc from beginning to end, so if you have heard any songs by Hero online or elsewhere, then you know what you are going to get from start to finish.

The only problems I have with this disc come from some of the songwriting and production decisions here and there.  The keyboard intro to the album is short, but seems very non-metal to me.  Maybe I am just not up-to-date on the latest in cool metal intros.  In fact, the whole opening song ("Immortal") works as a good album opener, but isn't one I would ever listen to by itself.

A few songs seem to have a weird mix with the low end ­ where I would like to see (and feel) the bass drums kicking me in the chest, they suddenly get buried in the mix.  The sound is still nice and clear in these areas, so I just have to assume that it was a mixing decision of some kind.  I find it kind of weird to get ready to bang my head, but then suddenly not be able to hear the beat.  Gotta have that crazy beat to work up a good head-bangin' head ache....

If you know metal, then you can probably guess the lyrical content just by reading the songs titles.  The only lyrics that don't work for me are from "Punch in the Face": "I'd rather take a punch in the face than run."  Sorry guys ­ I am a wimp. I would rather run.

Those are some minor quibbles ­ and I am sure many will disagree with me.  Immortal may not win any "metal album of the year" awards, but it is still a quality release by a group that not only rocks, but tries to help teach others how to do the same.  In the immortal words of AC/DC: "for those about to rock, we salute you!"

(and you almost thought I would go the whole review without making one bad pun...)

By Matt Crosslin (8-14-2009)

Matt Crosslin - editor of  Down the Line http://www.downthelinezine.com, web design,  occasional writer 
I'm a major music fan with a great wife that cheerfully indulges my taste in "weird" music.  My wife and I love to travel to strange lands, but I can't get her to join me in watching obscure SciFi TV series from start to finish.