Album Review: Fifth Angel – The Third Secret (Nuclear Blast)

Legendary 80’s Seattle-born metal band, Fifth Angel recently put the finishing touches on their first new album in almost 30 years. Entitled ‘The Third Secret’, it will be released on October 26, 2018 via Nuclear Blast.

The album features the incredible talents of guitarist and lead vocalist Kendall Bechtel, bassist John Macko and drummer and backing vocalist Ken Mary.

Says bassist John Macko: “When we began this process, we always were mindful to write songs that moved us as a band first. We felt that if we achieved that, then the music will most likely touch our fans as well.” Adds lead vocalist and guitarist Kendall Bechtel: “We are very proud of the new album! We hope the fans will hear the classic threads of the Fifth Angel they know and love, along with the growth and maturity the individuals of the band have gone through over the years. We hope they love the new songs as much as we do!”

Fifth Angel hope you like your metal fast…very fast because on The Third Secret, fast is the keyword.

Kicking off with a combination of thumping drums, screeching riffs and a high-pitched yell, Stars Are Falling shows that time hasn’t changed much. It’s instantly clear just how high in quality the production job is here as every single note, every single breath taken is there in glorious clarity. It’s needed too as Fifth Angel’s brand of heavy metal could sounded dated if it wasn’t for the crispness.

If you want a fresher sounding style of old-school head-bangers then Fifth Angel are happy to provide with We Will Rise, Queen Of Thieves and Dust to Dust. Epic solos, soaring vocals and choruses that are very catchy, it’s all good fun.

At the halfway point, the slower, lighter and arena ballad Can You Hear Me steps forward to give a momentary break from the faster stuff. It’s very chorus heavy but fails to spark into life.

Happily that slip is corrected before it turns into a fall with the exciting rhythm and guitar gunnery of This is War and the title track, Third Secret. The quality in the riffs and hooks shines through although the latter of the two takes a little while to really get there. Once it hits the solo, it has well and truly cemented itself in the mind though.

There are no surprises as we reach the final moments of the album. The penultimate track, Shame on You is pointed and sharp on the ears before Hearts of Stone ends the album with horns in the air and heads-banging in unison.

Fifth Angel – The Third Secret Full Track Listing:

1. Stars Are Falling
2. We Will Rise
3. Queen Of Thieves
4. Dust To Dust
5. Can You Hear Me
6. This Is War
7. Fatima
8. Third Secret
9. Shame On You
10. Hearts Of Stone

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The Third Secret will be available via all major stores and streaming services upon release.