Deadly Magic As Nightmares Gorged The Earth CD Review

I can’t pretend that I’m a huge Power/Prog Metal fan, I’m just not. Most of the time I’ll run screaming if you try to talk to me about either of these genres. However, there are a few bands from the days of my youth that you’ll catch me vibing on – Queensryche, Crimson Glory (MIDNIGHT’S Version), Fates Warning and Helloween. I was also quite fond of Riot around the Thundersteel era.
 
Why am I babbling on about these bands and this type of music, it’s due to a new band, Deadly Magic’s debut EP, “As Nightmares Gorged the Earth”. This EP just came across my desk a few days ago and I’ve been cranking on it for a few days now. Apparently, this is a side project of the guitarist/vocalist Maik Jegszenties from the Thrash band, Messerschmitt. I’d never heard of them, so I went and got the scoop and got my head kicked in by some of their tunes. So, long story short, Maik, is a huge fan of music of this ilk and had wanted to step out and give it a try, so he put together a helluva band rounding it out with a brilliant vocalist, named Alexis Roy-Petit. I’d never heard of Alexis or his work either, but again, I checked out some of his previous work and it’s quite good too.
 
As Nightmares Gorged the Earth is 24 minutes of some of the finest Prog/Power Metal that I’ve heard since Queensryche’s Debut EP, Helloween’s Keeper of The Seven Keys Part II & Riot’s Thundersteel album. Granted, it’s much more complex musically than those albums but the feeling of those albums is there, and the vocals are in line with those releases. This isn’t my typical choice of listening, but I couldn’t help but love this EP on the first listen. Musicianship like this is few and far between in today’s music. A great deal of music like this takes itself too seriously and often winds up boring. That’s not the case here at all, this EP is jam packed with face-melting guitar riffs/leads and spectacular vocal work. It’s truly breathtaking. If you fancy yourself a fan of the Prog/Power Metal, this is an EP that you don’t want to miss out on. I strongly recommend checking it out and I’m eager to hear how the band will approach a full-length album. My favorite track off the EP is “Another I Beckons” but the band’s namesake “Deadly Magic” is a killer track too! At 4 tracks in 24 minutes, you can’t go wrong grabbing this EP up. There’s so much to love and admire about the sheer talent this band exudes, and I can’t wait to hear more. I’d love to see them sign on to play the Prog Power Fest in Atlanta!

~Black Angel