FOUR years after releasing the first chapter of their
concept album “Rabbits’ Hill pt.One”, based on Richard Adams’ novel “Watership
Down”, Italian power metal quintet Trick or Treat return with part two.
Originally formed in 2002 as a Helloween tribute band they
are now a valid band in their own right.
Concept albums can be a tricky vehicle and if based on an
original idea by the band can allow the listener to follow the journey through
the album but if based on a piece of existing literature it can be hard to
follow if you haven’t read the book, especially if there are as many characters
as there are in Watership Down.
That aside and side stepping the fact that a Metal band are
writing songs about pesky Wabbits is
“Rabbits’Hill pt.two” any good?
With a blend of melodic heavy metal, more standard metal and
a dollop of acoustical numbers, musically this album ticks most of the boxes.
Huge orchestrations and epic choirs are prevalent throughout and lead bellower
Alessandro Conti shows off his powerful and impressive range, more than
reminiscent of Michael Kiske.
Opener ‘Inle (The Black Rabbit of De
ath)’ is a decent power
metal song full of great riffs and double kick drums with a bit of Death metal
growling thrown in for good measure!
The mood changes to a folksy sound on ‘Together Again’, a
song about strength survival and freedom featuring a slightly demure vocal from
Conti.
The thumping bass intro overlaid by harmony guitars on
‘Cloudrider’ signals the return to a more melodic, heavy sound with great
vocals again and a fairly tasty dual guitar solo battle.
‘Efrafa’ has a haunting opening with tolling bells but soon
develops into another power metal tune with some solid riffs and background
vocals. It is melodic in structure and has some nice key changes and technical
guitar parts.
The now ‘traditional’ power ballad ‘Never Say Goodbye’ is up
next and features Sara Squadrani (Ancient Bard and Aryeon) on shared vocals.
Her somewhat nasal quality blends nicely with Conti to deliver a very powerful
song.
It’s back to power metal, fast paced riffage with ‘The Great
Escape’, a song not about Steve McQueen but rabbits doing a runner! It’s
another fine tune with a great vocal delivery from Conti again and a strangled
guitar solo that works really well.
“They Must Die” is the darkest song in nature on the album
and has an opening slow, heavy riff reflecting the evil within the song. With
guest vocals from Tim “Ripper” Owens as the ‘evil’ rabbit General Woundwart the
song increases in pace into another fast paced metal tune with “Ripper” a
decent, in character, vocal.
“Beware The Train” is an instrumental on which the band
delves into their inner Dream Theater in places. It starts with a fairly
standard metal riff before the power metal side takes over.
There is another folksy start to ‘United’ featuring Tony
Kakko (Sonata Arctica) on vocals before the riffs kick in. More traditional in
structure with some staccato guitar work it develops into a song with an almost
prog rock feel to it by the end.
Penultimate song ‘The Showdown’ is 11 minutes long and
starts with a huge Orchestrational arrangement. The song varies between fast
paced old skool metal riffage and mid tempo ones with some fine soloing from
Guido Benedetti and Luca Venturelli. There is also a mellow Pink Floydish
middle section and the song ends with a narration by Conti over an acoustic
outro.
The album finishes with melodic hard rock tune ‘Last Breath’
which brings the album nicely to a close.
Overall this is a decent power metal album worth a listen
with possibly the synopsis for Watership Down at your side.
The band......
Alessandro Conti – vocals
Guido Benedetti – Guitars
Luca Venturelli – Guitars
Leone Villani Conti – Bass
Review by Andy Gillen
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