Warrior - Code Of Life


Year of Release: 2001
Label: Nuclear Blast
Catalog Number: NB 0601
Format: CD
Total Time: 52:30:00

Let's go back to 1985, when the music tree of heavy metal was not quite as big as it is today and the border between metal and non-metal was very clear. One of the bands of the time were LA based rockers Warrior who managed to record an undisputed classic with Fighting For The Earth. An album that got into the books of history for all the right reasons, but at the time I often thought to myself, maybe this is just another James Dean synopsis? Speak, if they had the opportunity to sustain long enough for a follow up recording, maybe Warrior wouldn't have received the praises of today, given the situation of dispensing before proofing the world of their talents a second time around? [Huh? I think he means that an immediate follow up would have tarnished the praise the debut gets today because they'd be viewed together... - PW ed.]

Well, all that took a turn when in 1998 Warrior besieged us again with a second release titled Ancient Future. Back then, the vocalist, Parramore McCarty, and guitarist, Joe Floyd, were the only remaining members of the original line-up. A worthy album to begin the saga around this band once again.

The year is 2001 and Warrior have released their third recording with The Code Of Life. This time around only Joe Floyd remained in the camp, but the well known Rob Rock (Impellitteri, Axel Rudi Pell, Mars, and solo release Rage Of Creation) entered the studio to record the album. The Code Of Life has in parts the same traits as Fighting For The Earth, displayed with some heavy, mid-paced, groove orientated songs where the heaviness is expressed via raw and hard vocals combined with some mean sounding guitar riffs and solos, filled with licks rather than shreds. Rob Rock's screaming vocals seem to be the perfect choice as replacement, with Joe's song writing still capturing what once made this band a legend. Not all the 12 songs of the album manage to convince and some of the weaker tracks can truly be seen as fillers only. Also some of the songs show a more modern approach, seemingly written to please the younger audiences, but the few 80s style songs (like "Day Of Reckoning," "We Are One" or "Code Of Life") make this disc at least for Warrior fans a worthwhile purchase.

Also released by Nuclear Blast USA

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]


Tracklisting:
Day of Reckoning / Kill The Machine / Standing / We Are One / Open Your Eyes / Pantheon / Code Of Life / Soul Survivor / Endless Beginning / Fool?s Theme / Insignificance / Retribution

Musicians:
Rob Rock - vocals
Joe Floyd - guitar
Mick Perez - guitar
Simon Oliver - bass
Dave DuCey - drums

Discography:
Fighting For The Earth (1985/1997)
Ancient Future (1998)
The Code Of Life (2001)

Genre: Traditional Metal

Origin US

Added: January 31st 2005
Reviewer: Peter Fundeis
Score:
Hits: 2456
Language: english

  

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