This is the debut album from Switzerland's Godiva. Playing a brand of classic heavy metal in the tradition of such bands as Judas Priest and Accept, the band already has landed opening slots for Freedom Call, Shakra, Primal Fear, Dokken, U.D.O., Fates Warning and Krokus. The band consists of Sammy Lasagmi, guitars, Peter Garder, drums, Mitch Koontz bass and Anthony De Angelis vocals, who along with using a skull cane as a stage prop, paints his face in a sort of King Diamond meets Marilyn Manson fashion.

Most of the tracks feature big Accept/Grave Digger style of riffing and the German metal sound permeates through most of their songs. Great harmonized lead guitar sections and pounding double bass drum rhythms grace many tracks and the voice of Anthony De Angelis really reminds me of Marc Storace of Krokus but with his great strong and powerful screams, Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin (Jag Panzer) comes to mind. Razorblade Romantic has that German metal sound that I previously mentioned and Heavy Metal Thunder has the big fist-pumping metal sound of classic Accept and Saxon but with a little of the Jag Panzer U.S. style of power metal. One Shot sees the band continuing the flow of solid tracks and is a little speedier than the two previous ones. A great "raising the metal horns" (thanks for the cool phrase Ben!!!) sort of song and the lower and more sinister vocal style reminds me of Peavy Wagner's style (Rage). A solid head-banger, that is very heavy and has a big thick rhythm guitar sound. Riding Through Time, really stands out as well. Starting with another explosive Grave Digger style of opening riff, it builds in energy and has a great chorus. Where Angels Die uses a more speedy muted Helloween style of riffing and powerful double bass drumming to create another solid track that features some great speedy guitar harmonies and shredding lead guitar.

Other tracks continue in the Accept/U.D.O. vein and Anthony's voice even sounds like Udo Dirkschneider's on some of the quieter parts of some tracks. Cold Blood begins with a bass riff that for a moment I thought they were going to play No More Tears by Ozzy and with the vocal chants of "It goes on and on and on....." I thought they were going to break into Sabbath's Heaven And Hell. The band hauls out the cheese a little bit with their metal anthem, Let The Tanks Roll; a pounding heavy song that celebrates the glory of heavy metal (there's a novel concept!!). Bullshit Lover wanders a little into the Krokus or AC/DC territory with it's straight ahead bluesy boogie metal style and the album ends with Sinner, a decent Accept flavored track with some great piercing screams

Godiva is yet another new band to proudly display it's influences, and yet manage to come up with quality heavy metal. I really like Anthony De Angelis' voice as he not only has the piercing strength but also a little of the rougher edge that is needed for this type of metal. There's no real bad tracks (O.K. Bullshit Lover and Let The Tanks Roll just barely make the grade!!) and some, although have a decent solid sound, have nowhere near the energy of the better tracks on this album. Fans of classic heavy metal, German metal and U.S. power metal will find lots to like about Godiva. A great start and a solid debut album and judging by the overall quality and especially of the handful of killer tracks on this album, the potential is there for a really great band.