GHOST AVENUE – Even Angels Fail

“The Best of the Best” is the lyrically corny but musically catchy opening track from Even Angels Fail, the fourth album from Oslo Traditional/Melodic Metal band Ghost Avenue. Clinging to a solid Eighties style of Traditional metal, the song, about a kick ass mercenary type who becomes a hero, could fit in easily on any second tier action hero soundtrack of that era, maybe not the Stallone or Schwarzenegger pics but possibly the Van Dammes or Seagals. There’s hundreds of songs covering the same subject matter, but the band’s tight delivery and a top-shelf vocal performance from singer Kim Sandvik help bring an otherwise enjoyable result.

“Breakdown” continues the Eighties Metaltone set forth by the opening track, one that Ghost Avenue will rarely stray from throughout Even Angels Fail–something harder and more martial than the Hair Metal of that era, but not as hard or the arena headliners of the time. Think W.A.S.P., Dirty Looks, Loudness, or Dokken at their harder edge. The guitars often take a Dokkenesque tone on Even Angels Fail, most evident on “Wasted Generation”. One of the better tracks on the album, “Wasted Generation” has a slick chorus and an extended guitar break.

There aren’t any real surprises through the middle section of the album, just dependable, enjoyable songs following the verse/chorus/verse/chorus/solo/chorus pattern. “Hero” adds some backing vocals and ends with an exciting galloping musical breakdown at the end; “Northman” opens with a marching drumbeat before Kim tells us “They came in long ships across the sea”, setting the table for yet another song about invasion and war to add to the Metal archives. While it never breaks out from there to deliver a “Run To The Hills” impact, it’s a decent sounding song, like the other nine on Even Angels Fail.

“A Violent Disturbance Of The Peace” breaks the pattern slightly, adding Thrash-inflected riff and rhythms to a song about a world where “the mob rules the streets”.

Ghost Avenue save the best (albeit not “The Best Of The Best”) for last, closing with the very strong title cut, which at over six minutes is the longest on the album but seems the shortest.

Not a game changer by any measure, Even Angels Fail nonetheless is a front-to-back reliable and consistent collection of songs pleasing to any ear seeking a Traditional Metal experience.