“Seasons Of  Tragedy” is the brand new album from metal sensations Benedictum. It follows on from their very impressive debut release “Uncreation” which this reviewer placed in his personal top ten albums of 2006. Not only did it receive our adulation but it also garnered rave reviews from Metal Hammer, Burn and Classic Rock with that magazine even going so far as to place it in their top 50 albums of 2006.

When this album landed at HRH for review I snapped it up straight away and silently said a little prayer to the Gods of Rock asking them to deliver me a slab of molten heavy metal to rival the debut. In my heart of hearts I felt I was maybe expecting too much so when it came to the end of my first play of the album you can imagine my delight when I found “Seasons Of Tragedy” rocks even harder and more in your face than “Uncreation”.

The album features eleven smoking hard rock anthems that really will “shake your foundations”. One of the first things that struck me about this album is the superb full on metal mix. It took me back to the feeling I got when I first heard the debut from Skid Row as well as their “Slave To The Grind” album. The guitars riff away as if all the hounds of hell are on their tail and Veronica Freeman (vocals) shows us that she truly does have one of the best new voices in hard rock, possibly the female equivalent of Sebastian Bach (I kid you not).

The opening track “Dawn Of Seasons” is an instrumental that really does set a mood of mild menace with its Eastern exotic melodies but it doesn’t prepare you for the onslaught that is “Shell Shock”. Here is a song that surges with raw power and which lays it beating heart out in the open for all to hear. It is basically a soldier’s song and lyrically there is a lot going on if one cares to take the time to listen. It has an infectious chorus that will have you throwing devil horn shapes in the air within minutes and it has some stunning guitar work (so clean down those air guitar strings because this album is chock full of axe hero moments). As the final notes of “Shell Shock” ring out no time is spared as the band launch into “Burn It Out”. This track is just so much metal fun one wonders if it’s legal to have so much fun from music. The songs main riff is a cracker and as Veronica screams, “You want it faster, wheels to the ground” I defy you not to have a few carnal thoughts. The highpoint is at the two-minute mark when the guitars unleash all their joyous fury and it is pure guitar heaven on earth as they battle it out for stunt guitar supremacy. “Bare Bones” sees the pace being slowed down to a very cool grind. This track sees Veronica showing us a slightly straighter vocal style and as a result we get to hear a side from the band so far unheard. It allows things to get very melodic either side of the heavy moments and hints at new depths for the band to explore in the future. Once more the guitar solos are full on and magnificent and each play had this song sounding better and better.

“Within The Solace” is a song that throbs with dark energy and will appeal to Dio era Sabbath fans. Veronica really pushes her voice on this track and not to be out done even the guitars raise their shred levels to new heights. All the ingredients are mixed together in a thoroughly modern way and everything melds together in glorious fashion. The icing on the cake would have been some well placed ringing of church bells for added doom.

By now you will gather I love this album but I should point out that the three tracks that pin down the middle section of the album whilst being good don’t seem to match the first and last third of the album. “Beast In The Field” stomps along and literally stalks the listener but feels maybe just a little workman like in its arrangement. The songs saving grace is the truly fabulous guitar solos that are fret melters of the highest order and which sound more terrifying on each play.

“Legacy” is another solid rocker that bounces along with a life of its own but which fails to explode in the way it threatens. Don’t get me wrong it’s a good track but once more it relies heavily on the guitar pyrotechnics to save it from sounding a shade predictable. “Nobodies Victim” rocks with intent but finds itself swaggering down a blind alley and meeting itself coming back the other way. I guess you could say as a song it goes on a just a little bit too long.

Things get well and truly back on track with a cover of Accepts classic anthem “Balls To The Wall”. Like their debut album where the band covered “The Mob Rules” (Black Sabbath) they have chosen a song which Veronica can stamp her style on .To add spice to this song we even get appearances from Mr. Scary himself George Lynch (guitars) and Jeff Pilson (bass) who both add their considerable musical muscle, weight and sonic powers to this number. The only way to listen to this track is loud and proud for maximum effect.

“Steel Rain” is the albums slow and moody and yet still heavy and dramatic workout. Veronica once more sings it straight and shows us a glimpse of a more melodic Benedictum .It maybe wanders along a little too much but serves its purpose of leading the listener into the final track of the album “Seasons Of Tragedy”. This song sees the band using monk like chants at the start and brought to mind the flavour of their debut. At nigh on twelve minutes this track is the albums tour de force finale and it delivers in some style. The track goes through some dizzying time changes and there are enough riffs in this one track to build a while career on. Melodies drift in and out and the music takes both dark and light pathways and the end result is very satisfying indeed. This one song demonstrates that Benedictum aren’t just about five minute in your face metal assaults but that they also have a side to them that, if required, can stretch out and hold the listeners attention with ease. As the track came to an end I couldn’t help thinking it’s a side of the band I would like them to explore again as they handle this expanded musical format with real style.

So there you have it. If you loved the first album from Benedictum you are going to positively scream with delight when you get your ears round this slice of stylish metal. After releasing such a confident debut the band had it all to play for and had put themselves under a fair amount of pressure to deliver the goods but it sounds like they have thrived on rising to the challenge. For metal fans everywhere this album is a great start to 2008 and shows Benedictum throwing down the gauntlet to many bands who next to this album will sound like pretenders

Let us know your views on Seasons Of Tragedy 

Track Listing

Dawn of Seasons
Shell Shock
Burn it Out
Bare Bones
Within the Solace
Beast in the Field
Legacy
Nobodies Victim
Balls to the Wall
Steel Rain
Seasons of Tragedy

Line Up

Veronica Freeman - Vocals
Pete Wells - Guitars
Paul Courtois - Drums
Chris Morgan - Keyboards
Jesse Wright - Bass