Italy's Alltheniko are back with album #5 of their off-center brand of Power/Speed/Thrash Metal. Their last album struck me as a NWOBHM-inspired affair reminiscent of some of the newer bands of today emulating the more eclectic bands of yesteryear but this new one, Fast and Glorious, bakes the Power/Thrash of early Metal Church with a glaze of Warrel Dane-style vocals for a more coherent whole than Alltheniko have conjured up in the past. "Tank of Death," "Kaisersteel" and "Scream for Exciter" are some of the more memorable tracks though they aren't awesome, which pretty much sums up the entire album. The cover of Saxon's "Power and the Glory" that closes the album has nothing on the original.
Upon first listen Fast and Glorious chugs and screams in a way that is not like too many other bands and that is a good thing. Repeated listens, however, reveal that the album as a whole is a little one-dimensional and may not stand the test of time very well. Could be worse, no one is going to accuse Alltheniko of courting favor and for that alone the discerning fan should give them a listen.
