alpha tiger man or machine

Released: 02 May 2011 Label: Sonic Attack

German outfit Alpha Tiger are a band that are gaining popularity in their own local scene, and this, their second album (the first was released under the band name Satin Black) is an attempt to break into a wider mainstream.

Musically, it’s pretty tight, if a bit generic, but Stephan Deitrich really does sound as though he’s struggling to reach the notes in almost every track. As a result, it weakens what is a halfway decent power metal sound.

It opens delicately, acoustically, nicely, then picks up the pace until that vocal kicks in. The first two minutes are pretty in-offensive, but it goes downhill from there.

There’s plenty of power through the rhythm section, and the guitars are producing all the right noises, in the right order, but other bands do the same kind of thing, much, much better.

It’s rare for me to take this view, but this album might actually be improved with the interjection of some extreme vocals, a bit of growling or grunting just as a counterpoint to the insanely high vocal lead. But anyway, it’s not on it, so we’ll never know for sure.

Like many other pieces of work, the real appreciation for me comes when the band slow down, and Stephan gets into the middle of his range and sings (When Autumn Leaves Fall). The rest of the album is, well, fairly standard, heard it before, but better although the comical interlude on Against the Time is entertaining.

The album plays out in much the same way as it started, with a nice, semi acoustic melody that leads into something a bit faster and heavier.

In summary, generic power metal with a lead vocalist that sounds as if his underwear is on back to front and two sizes too small.

by Alan Thomson