Hungarian power metallers Wisdom released “Judas” in mid 2011 through Soundholic but it has been picked up by Noiseart for another release in late August, which I found strange. Questioning a power metal mate about the band, he was familiar with them and had heard some of this album, so it’s not like they are not getting about. However, the release must need some sort of stimulation so a relaunch is on offer. I was expecting maybe a bonus track with this but greedy as I am, diddly squat is offered with just a straight reissue under a new a label.
Wisdom do everything that power metal has to offer, the band has taken elements of Edguy, Helloween, Stratovarius, early Rhapsody and envisaged it into this album which for all intent and purpose does what it is supposed to. The album is brimming with crescendo choral breaks, trademark fret tickling and ball busting anthem driven riffs and lyrics. Question of whether we need this depends on your fixation or even addiction for power metal when the world is absolutely teeming with top rate power metal bands churning out sublime albums relentlessly. This album apparently has Mats Leven (ex-Therion) on guest vocals on the title track, a feature the label seem to be using as a major marketing ploy, which is fair enough if it works.
The albums begins with “Fallin’ Away From Grace” and immediately that Crossfader opens his larynx I am visualising Tobias Sammet (Edguy), the guy is a ringer for him which isn’t a bad thing considering the vocal aptitude Sammet demonstrates with regularity. The guy also has a tone like Andi Deris too. The tune is extremely vivacious, not the folky style, more the Helloween speeding thunder style. The vocal harmonies are totally Rhapsody with a soaring majestic feel to them. The drum work is heavy but the sound is lightweight overall reminding me of Nocturnal Rites. “Somewhere Alone” offers a slight change with a pulsing beat and a more heavy metal or US power metal nature of say Jag Panzer. I did enjoy “Live Forevermore” which is very lightweight, wimpy OK I’ll admit it, with some similarities to Polish power mongers Crystal Viper. The tune is highly vigorous, imbibed with enthusiasm and with a choral break that really is over the top but in a very good way. The solo break is very good too, with the band thinking very carefully on how to use them for maximum effect. The rousing nature of this album is very close to Hammerfall as you would expect with a fist pumping atmosphere and adrenaline infusing feel.
“Judas” has an epic feel to the songs with layering arrangements creating grandiose and ornate songs that deliver vibrant power metal anthems to set the heart racing. The acoustic piece of “Heaven & Hell” leads to the pomp of “Silent Hill” as the milder side of Edguy and the recent I Am I come to mind, despite this being out well before the I Am I album. There isn’t a tune I didn’t like on this album, but whether this has longevity in the scene is debatable and coming from Hungary isn’t going to help matters. I suspect if this band was from Germany, Sweden, Finland etc the band would become very popular very quickly indeed. The album closes with the title track and guest vocals by Mats Leven as I said. I’d actually say the guy singing is a match for him if not better, and certainly more suited to these songs than Mats. The tune is epic with sound effects of walking, a water dripping background leading to a sword being unsheathed ready for battle. As cheesy as that may sound it works well when the song goes into a ballad like melody, with powerful poignant vocals in the verse. As the chorus enters with what seems like a thousand people singing, the tune is all out Rhapsody fayre.
There are no faults with this album at all except for it sounding like so many other bands, but with an upcoming support slot on the forthcoming Sabaton tour in November with Eluveitie I would strongly suggest you arrive early to check them out, as the music Wisdom play is perfect for Sabaton and power metal fans alike.
8.5/10 (Martin Harris)
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