Album Review: Booze Control – Forgotten Lands (Gates of Hell Records)

Formed in 2009 in Braunschweig, Germany, Booze Control came together at the spur of the moment when guitarist/vocalist David Kuri, bassist Steffen Kurth and drummer Lauritz “Lord” Jilge, were asked to assemble a band for a local event. The trio quickly gathered in a local rehearsal room to write songs in preparation for the show, thinking all along the band would be short-lived. But, to their surprise, more gigs followed, as did second guitarist Jendrik Seiler. Booze Control started to enjoy their new compositions, which, in comparison to the more technical nature of their previous outfits, was welcome. Soon, their debut EP, Wanted, was released in 2009, followed up by 2011’s Don’t Touch While Running.

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However, leading up to the creation of their 2013 album Heavy Metal, Kuri and Jilge had a revelation while watching Iron Maiden’s Beast Over Hammersmith live video. The conviction in which Bruce Dickinson sings, the energy of the band and the charisma they displayed while on stage needed to be followed in Booze Control. Prior, Booze Control was riding the somewhat clichéd boozed-out rock band angle a bit too hard with their first releases. While the songs were there, the delivery wasn’t, so the band made a concerted effort to improve their songwriting and stage presentation for Heavy Metal. They succeeded in doing so, setting them on a path for the ensuing 2016 The Lizard Rider album and their latest and first LP for Gates of Hell Records, Forgotten Lands.

Now ten years into their career, Booze Control has already gone well beyond their humble origins and party-time ethos. Booze Control invites you to take part in their continued evolution on Forgotten Lands. Out on February 22nd 2019.

Booze Control are hardly the first metal band to find themselves inspired by Iron Maiden. The list of people who may have picked up a guitar, mic or pair of drum sticks after witnessing the legendary Brits play is probably far longer then anyone would expect.

Booze Control have that influence running through them like a vein but happily it’s not the one specific thing keeping them alive. Across 10 tracks the German heavy metal band show that they have plenty of the hard rocking, hairy metal-infused riffing, tight vocals and chunky rhythms to make Forgotten Lands a worthy listen.

Booze Control have some flair about them, highlighted by the classic metal epics Attack of the Axemen and Of the Deep. Both early tracks see Booze Control at their strongest and most exciting. Driven by two things; the galloping riffs and the vocals. A combination that sees the album bridge the gap between NWOBHM and old-school European metal.

Then we get the fire of Slaying Mantis, a track so hyper and energetic it’s hard to not get the head well and truly banging. The hefty drumming and deep bass sound is really impressive.

Perhaps you need a bigger flame? Well Booze Control have you covered with the horn-throwing excellence of Playing With Fire. A track that has a delicious guitar solo and a catchy as hell chorus.

The riffs of Thanatos are sublime, the galloping rhythm of Doom of Sargoth and lengthy epic finale of Cydonian Sands ensure things stay strong until the very end. A lovely old-school metal record.

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Booze Control – Forgotten Lands Full Track Listing:

1. Forgotten Lands
2. Attack of the Axemen
3. The Nameless
4. Of the Deep
5. Spellbound
6. Slaying Mantis
7. Playing With Fire
8. Thanatos
9. Doom of Sargoth
10. Cydonian Sands

 

 

The album can be picked up via Booze Control’s store and via Bandcamp. Find out more and keep up to date with news by liking the band’s Facebook Page.




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Booze Control - Forgotten Lands (Gates of Hell Records)
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