Review by Jack on December 13, 2001.

Starting off with some killer Arabic sounding chanting, then proceeding to some big drum blasts followed by some sweet guitar work ‘Genesis’ gets the ball rolling well for Stormwind’s latest effort in big old power metal tunes. “Reflections” is the name of the new album and if judged by the opening instrumental piece, it could be very good.

Stormwind’s style of power metal is the ‘epic Hollywood’ style in the vein of Rhapsody, and incorporates most of the features that make Rhapsody so famous; big epic choirs, overblown guitar and keyboard solos and pompous vocals (don’t get me wrong, these are good things). Overall “Reflections” ain’t a half bad effort at some ‘epic Hollywood’ metal, if that is what it is supposed to be. Which brings me to my biggest problem with Stormwind, they seem to be just doing enough to make ends meet with “Reflections” without deviating to far from the norms of the ‘epic’ power metal.

However, there is a lot to like about Stormwind, while they may be in the same vein of Rhapsody, they do not push the boundary to the extent that Rhapsody does, which essentially means Stormwind loses that pompousness that Rhapsody walk a fine line with. This is a good thing.

I do not mean to write off Stormwind as a poor man’s Rhapsody, but my experiences with power metal are more limited than they are with black metal, so drawing comparisons may seem a bit muddled to you the reader. Stormwind do feature enough of their own attributes to warrant a listen and you might see it in your favour to perhaps dig up “Reflections” and give it a whirl in the old CD player.

Bottom Line: While not blowing my mind, “Reflections” is a nice power metal album, with ample dosages of all good power ingredients. Better than reasonable album.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Originality: 6
Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 6.5
Production: 6.5
Overall: 7

Rating: 6.6 out of 10

Review by Jack on December 13, 2001.

Starting off with some killer Arabic sounding chanting, then proceeding to some big drum blasts followed by some sweet guitar work ‘Genesis’ gets the ball rolling well for Stormwind’s latest effort in big old power metal tunes. “Reflections” is the name of the new album and if judged by the opening instrumental piece, it could be very good.

Stormwind’s style of power metal is the ‘epic Hollywood’ style in the vein of Rhapsody, and incorporates most of the features that make Rhapsody so famous; big epic choirs, overblown guitar and keyboard solos and pompous vocals (don’t get me wrong, these are good things). Overall “Reflections” ain’t a half bad effort at some ‘epic Hollywood’ metal, if that is what it is supposed to be. Which brings me to my biggest problem with Stormwind, they seem to be just doing enough to make ends meet with “Reflections” without deviating to far from the norms of the ‘epic’ power metal.

However, there is a lot to like about Stormwind, while they may be in the same vein of Rhapsody, they do not push the boundary to the extent that Rhapsody does, which essentially means Stormwind loses that pompousness that Rhapsody walk a fine line with. This is a good thing.

I do not mean to write off Stormwind as a poor man’s Rhapsody, but my experiences with power metal are more limited than they are with black metal, so drawing comparisons may seem a bit muddled to you the reader. Stormwind do feature enough of their own attributes to warrant a listen and you might see it in your favour to perhaps dig up “Reflections” and give it a whirl in the old CD player.

Bottom Line: While not blowing my mind, “Reflections” is a nice power metal album, with ample dosages of all good power ingredients. Better than reasonable album.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Originality: 6
Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 6.5
Production: 6.5
Overall: 7

Rating: 6.6 out of 10

Review by Jacobo on February 13, 2005.

In the last few years there has been resurgence in old-school sounding metal projects, be it thrash, speed, or death. Demonoid play old-school death/thrash combined with some modern day metal elements. Three members of the band, Kristian Niemann, Johan Niemann and Christopher Johnsson come from the well-established Therion. The fourth, Richard Evensand, is the ex-drummer of Soilwork and the explosive Chimaira.

Let’s get to the point: Does Demonoid´s debut run through your head like a freakin’ bulldozer? Yes – and resulting in major damage. Riders of the Apocalypse has got to be one of the best death/thrash CD’s released not only this year, but in the last decade. It is fast, intelligent, fast, heavy, fast, technical, fast and originally fresh.

One could say that Riders of the Apocalypse is the follow-up to the mighty Ho Drakon Ho Megas, released by Therion in 1993. It could have been the bridge between this record and Lepaca Kliffoth, Therion´s best release. ROTA dabbles in some experimentation and little pieces of melody, but in the end it is still an all-out death/thrash attack that shows no compromise.

On this record, Christopher Johnsson delivers his best vocal performance ever. He has the deep, death growls and the screechy, blacker ones as well. Some thought he had forgotten to growl with the direction of latter day Therion, but this proves that notion wrong. The Niemann brothers do an amazing job behind their axes and Richard Evensand proves that he is one of the most entertaining drummers. Production-wise, if you liked the sounds on Therion´s latest double CD, you will love this, it’s exactly the same.

The first three tracks, “Wargods,” “Firestorms” and “Witchburners” show no mercy, leaving no one standing. The fourth song, “The 14th plague,” is the darkest and doomiest song on Demonoid´s debut. All tracks are real killers except, “The Evocation.” It’s not bad, but it surely doesn’t live up to the level of the other compositions. The other tracks are so good, “The Evocation” could be called the album filler. Riders of the Apocalypse is that good.

This CD stands above all the crap that has been released lately in every single metal genre. I hope we have more of the same from Demonoid in the future. I would even advise the Therion gang to stop doing their symphonic crap and focus on this assassin – metal as true and powerful as it can get!

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 9
Originality: 8
Overall: 9

Rating: 8.8 of 10