Athorn
Liveable Hatred EP

September 2010
Released: 2010,
Rating: 5.0/5
Reviewer: Thorsten Zwingelberg

Hanover – cradle of the likes of hardrocking gods The Scorpions, Thunderhead, Victory or Fates Warning. But the tables seem to have turned and while The Scorpions have announced their farewell, a young band called Athorn is getting ready to take the scene by storm.

They call themselves “Symbionic Metal”, Nevermore’s Jeff Loomis called it “really fantastic” and I can’t but agree with him: it is a fierce melange of powerful guitar riffs and mindblowing vocals reminiscent of bands like Brainstorm, Tad Morose, Nevermore or Morgana Lefay. Take “Humanize the Demon”: this song takes you on a ride through metal land, from the more fragile sounds of Prog Metal, to the mighty tunes of Power Metal. Great guitar work is interwoven with a thundering rhythm section and coated with Carsten’s fantastic, variable vocals.

LIVABLE HATRED is a terrific piece of German Power Metal and while the band is getting ready to release their debut album in September, you shouldn’t hesitate to order this EP, which contains songs that won’t be on the album. If you don’t like tunes like “A Freak’s Dawn” or “The Ferryman”, you’re most probably deaf!