Review BLACK & DAMNED “Resurrection”

Is Black & Damned a product of the pandemic? In a way, yes. It was the year 2020 when Michael Vetter and Roland Seidel were condemned to do nothing due to a global lockdown. Not willing to just sit there and wait for things to happen, the guys got together and started writing songs that led to a debut album called “Heavenly Creatures”.

“Servants of the Devil” a second longplayer was released in 2023 and another two years later “Resurrection” hits the shelves. What started in the pandemic, due to sheer endless time available, became a metal band that slowly but steadily turned into a constant deliverer of heavy metal.

“Resurrection” contains ten songs and delivers power throbbing metal anthems.

With former Primal Fear guitarist Stefan Leibing at the helm, Black & Damned’s new effort has a powerful sound that fits the band’s musical direction. Songs like the opener “Silent Breaker” are metal anthems with a dark verse and a more melodic chorus. This songs is anything bit silent.

Dark and heavy is “Ruthless Wrath” before an acoustic intro leads to the anthemic “Red Heavens”. Black & Damned maneuvers in a four-minute time scheme. With one exception, each song is similar in length and the tracks also follow a basic pattern. The mighty “Injustice” and the up-tempo “Searing Flames” are well done power metal songs that show the raw force of heavy metal. What is missing from the album are the little twists and unexpected moments. No doubt, the songs are well done and the album roars out of the speakers. But if you listened to the first songs you can predict what the second half of the album will be about.

There is one moment though that sounds a bit different. The dark and evil “Shadows” has a little twist and it takes a while before the songs reveal the details.

In conclusion: “Resurrection” is a well-done power metal album. It is fun and entertaining to listen to these leather and denim headbangers more than once. Fans of bands like Primal Fear should check out this album. These ten songs stand for straightforward heavy metal forged in Stuttgart, Germany. And to close with an unusual comparison. This album could be the Mercedes Benz engine of metal – it generates power, stands for quality and runs forever.