Various Artists
V.A New Found Power Compilation

July 2004
Released: 2004, Century Media
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: Anders Sandvall

Century Media has gathered some of their more melodic acts on this compilation. All of these acts play more or less power/heavy metal and each band contributes with 1 or 2 songs on this album with totally 18 tracks. Seen out of European view this record is a necessity ‘cause several of the songs are only available in Japan or in the US, some of them are also previously un-released before.



A lot of the band CD’s are reviewed here in metal-rules by me or other in the staff so if you’re interested in the whole CD just go to the reviews. Mostly of the albums are from -00 to –04, only two songs are older than that. That is Iced Earth’s “BURNING TIMES” from the album “SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES” (-98) and Jag Panzer’s cover of “CHILDREN OF THE SEA” (-99) from the tribute album to Dio “HOLY DIO: A TRUBITE TO DIO”.



The main focus on this compilation is on the bands that currently released albums (Nocturnal Rites, Dream Evil, Kotipelto) or going to release their album (Dragonland). Other band who contributes on this compilation are Tad Morose, Nevermore, Angel Dust, Labyrinth, Consortium Project 3 and Zonata who recently quitted the music scene.



Nocturnal Rites are represented with two songs. “AVALON” is from the newly released “NEW WORLD MESSIAH” and “OKAHOO” is a Japanese bonus track taken from “AFTERLIFE” from –00.



Dream Evil contributes also with two songs. One is an unreleased track from “THE BOOK OF HEAVY METAL” by the name of “HEROES AND ZEROES”. That one didn’t make it on the final album and that was lucky cause it’s not one of the best songs Dream Evil made. That song is pure standard heavy metal and nothing more, it’s far from the great tracks this band has delivered before. Luckily the other track is the brilliant “ONLY FOR THE NIGHT” where the guys shows how real heavy metal should be played.



Another artist who’s represented twice is Kotipelto from Finland. His songs are “REASONS” from the album “COLDNESS” and the Japanese bonus track “SECRET NAME” from his debut by the name of “WAITING FOR THE DAWN”. There’s nothing negative to say about him, it’s well played somewhat melodic heavy metal with a brilliant singer.

Nevermore contributes with “I, VOYAGER” from their latest effort “ENEMIES OF REALITY” and it’s heavy grinding heavy metal music. Labyrinth does the song “THE PROPHET” from the album “LABYRINTH” and they do their standard power metal with their dreadful singer who can’t make the music justice. Consortium Project 3 released their album “TERRA INCOGNITA (THE UNDISCOVERED WORLD)” last year and their song “SPIRIT OF KINDNESS” is taken from that one. They play more melodic hardrock with focus on lead vocals.



Tad Morose does an OK cover of the Accept song “LOSING MORE THAN YOU EVER HAD” who is featured as a bonus track for the US on their new album “MODUS VIVENDI”. Jag Panzer does a Black Sabbath cover who works pretty well. Onward ships in with a Savatage song “STRANGE WINGS” that they do pretty good I think. The Swedish Zonata is on this compilation with “THE SEARCH FOR THE LIGHT” a Japanese bonus track from their last album “BURIED ALIVE” (-02). They do well played heavy metal influenced by neo-classic metal. Finally it’s Dragonland’s turn and they do “STARFALL” which is a melodic power/heavy metal track that is a demo for an album that’s going to be released during the autumn –04.



Personally I’m against all kinds of compilations but this is an exception. That’s because of there are so many unreleased songs and different bonus tracks who before this compilation only been available in each country. It’s also fun to see what Century has to offer the power/ heavy metal ordiance outthere.



The strongest acts on this album are Kotipelto, Dream Evil, Nocturnal Rites, Nevermore and Consortium Project 3. I strongly recommend this compilation to every fan of power/heavy metal.