WARNING: THE FOLLOWING ALBUM REVIEW FOR THE CRYSTAL EYE MAY MOTIVATE YOU TO BUY THIS CD… AND MAKE YOU AWARE THAT TRUE AND REAL AMERICAN TRADITIONAL METAL DOES, AFTER ALL, TRULY EXIST. YOU’VE BEEN METAL WARNED.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ALREADY SMIRKING… JUST REMEMBER THIS: STONE DOESN’T BULLSHIT WHEN IT COMES TO METAL.
SINISTER REALM – Okay, so I was minding my own Metal business, when one night last week I checked my email inbox to find a message from Sinister Realm. I’m thinking to myself, what Metal message is Sinister Realm sending me? I was of course curious, for this Traditional Metal band from Allentown, Pennsylvania, has made quite a Metal name for themselves on this part of the East Coast. In the email was an invitation to review their newly released studio album: The Crystal Eye (Shadow Kingdom Records). A no brainer… I was more than Metal willing to give this new Sinister Realm album a listen. Then I listened again… and again. Metal be thy name, I could not believe what I was hearing. God almighty above, The Crystal Eye is an unreal Traditional Metal listening experience.
For all Metal intents and purposes, if you are to buy just one more newly released Metal CD this year, The Crystal Eye is as strong a candidate as any other. Whoa, did someone say “why Stone”? The reasons are easy to explain, therefore here is the Metal breakdown, in no particular Metal order:
Reason One: Let’s skip right to the instrumental that is Battle for the Sinister Realm. My God almighty, is this an intense song that embellishes every nuance that is golden about a Traditional Metal instrumental. Listening to the melodic sound that this song radiates, coupled with its old school Metal vibe and feel, I’m mesmerized that this band can capture such welcomed Traditional Metal magic, in 3:29.
Reason Two: Dual Metal guitars. John Kantner and John Risko. These two Metal axe men summon up all the glorious images of excitement, of days long ago, when my young ears experienced Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing for the first time. Yes, the Metal torch has been handed down… John Kantner and John Risko are two Metal guitarists that are happening NOW in 2011. Hearing is believing…
Reason Three: Alex Kristof on vocals is a convincing and strong presence. Without knowing, I will wager he is a lifetime devotee to the late Ronnie James Dio. Alex is the singer that Traditional Metal bands will search the clubs, internet and world over for… he’s that dynamic with his vocals. On the 8:54 epic, The Tower is Burning, his confidence rains down with each talented syllable he sings. Honestly, there isn’t a moment on The Crystal Eye where I’m not impressed with listening to Alex.
Reason Four: All eight songs embody the essence of how Traditional Metal is supposed to sound like. Powerful, epic and responsible for giving me the damn chills, is how I best describe The Crystal Eye. This album would kick mighty ass in the mid 80’s, only Sinister Realm is kicking mighty ass in the here and now. Metal written and played like this doesn’t grow on some F’n fruit tree, ready to be picked for harvest. The Metal I hear on all of these songs is potent with muscular relevance and cannot be denied by my ears.
Reason Five: Every band needs its rhythmic glue to hold the beats steady and Chris Metzger (drums) and John Shamus Gaffney (bass, background vocals) are titans to hear. With a steel solid production, both Chris and John’s ground quaking effectiveness is substantial and heard with clarity.
Reason Six: The title track: The Crystal Eye. Metal be thy name, this song is the epitome of just how riveting and compelling Traditional Metal can sound and feel like. This song moves me, man. While I’m listening to this song, I feel like I am that “man on the silver mountain” and I can do anything.
Music is subjective and personal to any individual. However, take my Metal advice on Sinister Realm… what you do with it is entirely up to you. The Crystal Eye isn’t a can of Metal whoop ass, instead, it’s a case of Traditional Metal whoop ass. I finish by saying: I listen to my hefty share of Metal and I declare The Crystal Eye as one of the very best Metal albums of 2011. Thanks to Sinister Realm, I’ve been reminded as to why Metal is the law.
The Crystal Eye – Track Listing:
Winds of Vengeance
At the Hands of the Tormentor
With Swords Held High
The Crystal Eye
Signal the Earth
The Shroud of Misery
Battle for the Sinister Realm
The Tower is Burning
* For more info on SINISTER REALM, click on the links below:
LONG LIVE SINISTER REALM.
Stone.
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
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