Veritates - Killing Time

Review by Mario Wolski – streetclip.de

For the past two weeks, VERITATES have been accompanying me more or less every day on my way to work. Not just to write this review, but also because this disc is a blast. And if you're accompanied by a catchy tune like 'Killing Time' during your working day, it's doubly good.

VERITATES, Latin for truths (In vino veritas – you know – editor's note), got together six months ago to simply make a record as a project. A spontaneous, not overloaded album was planned. A spontaneous, not overloaded album is a success. When I heard 'Killing Time' for the first time, I was amazed by the homogeneity and unity of the songs. But I was even more surprised when I realized that the part was created without joint rehearsals. As well as?

Two musicians live in Lörrach, the other two at the other end of the Rhine in Cologne. Yes, some of them only know each other via e-mail.

Melodic Power Metal, sometimes with a slight urge to Thrash, in the highest culture. The quartet doesn't shy away from the finest catchiness, the best example is the opener 'The Past Is Dead', which reminds me personally of the Danes SEVEN THORNS. Since these are rather unknown in this country, this should actually be a coincidence. As already mentioned, the title track is a real catchy tune.

On the other hand, the guys around singer Andreas von Lipinski show an uncanny urge for epic and drama. Here's the prime example, the eleven-minute epic 'Hangmen Also Die'. Not only here, but especially with 'Jerusalem Syndrome', Andreas personally reminds me of the tyrant Harry Conklin.

At the end of the fun, the gentlemen with 'Hasta La Muerte' still have a rough Thrash breaker in the room. ICED EARTH haven't managed to forge such a song bomb in a long time.

With their mix of BLIND GUARDIAN with a better sound and more stringent songs, JAG PANZER and ICED EARTH, I'm sure they should find more than an open ear among many fans of traditional sounds. And I wouldn't be surprised if a project turned into a real band, really, with rehearsals and concerts.

The year 2020 hasn't even really started yet, and the first real (the word just had to be) high point is already on the horizon. The fact is, 9 thick but not overloaded points are due from my side.