ALBUM REVIEW: Invisible Queen – Holy Moses
When it comes to German metal, and thrash metal in particular, KREATOR, DESTRUCTION, SODOM and TANKARD – The Teutonic Big 4 – are the names that immediately spring to mind (and of course, you can’t forget DORO when talking about German metal!). One band though that have delivered consistently with their music and still remained underrated are HOLY MOSES. They have been going as long as the aforementioned bands but haven’t really garnered the same plaudits as them, despite realising 11 killer thrash-packed albums in that time.
Invisible Queen is the band’s twelfth record and it is set to be their last ever as they recently announced, with one final set of live dates signalling the end of the band after 40-plus years. Singer Sabina Classen sounds on top form throughout Invisible Queen and her vocals lead the attack as the razor sharp riffs and grooves from the rest of HOLY MOSES aid her with ease. This is a nonstop blitzkrieg of metal action that starts with Downfall Of Mankind and ends with Through The Veils Of Sleep and there isn’t even time to catch your breath as you listen, such is the ferocity on offer on Invisible Queen.
As you listen to to the songs on this album with highlights like Order Out Of Chaos, Alternative Reality and Visions Of Red, you will be left with feelings where you can’t understand why HOLY MOSES haven’t received the recognition that they should have, but you will also be left with the hope that they will after this, given the quality of the songs on offer here. As Invisible Queen ends on a high with the epic Through The Veils Of Sleep, you know you have listened to an album packed full of heart and soul and delivered with a constant passion for metal by a band who love what they are doing.
There is also an alternate version of the album that comes as a special edition that is worth talking about as well. Entitled Invisible Friends, this version features the same songs from the record but with a different guest vocalist on every track. These include Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth from OVERKILL, Diva Satanica from BLOODHUNTER, Tom Angelripper from SODOM and even German hardcore crew RYKERS among others. It makes for an interesting take on the songs from Invisible Queen and HOLY MOSES themselves and acts as a suitable tribute to the band.
Going back to Invisible Queen though, this is an album that is all about HOLY MOSES and their legacy and if the band are definitely going out, then they are doing it with a hell of bang here. This is prime Teutonic thrash metal from an underrated band that will hopefully get more than their dues before they end their impressive run forever.
Rating: 8/10
Invisible Queen is out now via Fireflash Records.
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