Losing vocalist Urban Breed via social media messaging, it’s a crucial juncture in the career for Serious Black. Recruiting the next singer launches fifth studio record Vengeance Is Mine into a critical stratosphere – not just from the media, but the already established fanbase who align often in the ‘pro-Urban or pro-band’ arena. Hopefully Nikola Mijic (also involved in Eden’s Curse) gets an open arms welcome, as the thirteen tracks display this 2.0 version of the group should have no trouble moving forward as one of the best melodic power metal acts for quality output over the last eight years.
Exuding the uplifting, fun nature that often has been a staple of the European power metal scene, opener “Rock with Us Tonight” has that endearing chorus propped up with a catchy keyboard line – the main hooks ready to energize theaters or festival audiences alike. Always able to pull out that straightforward unity metal anthem for “Soldiers of Eternal Light” just as easily as taking the atmosphere down to reflective, power ballad form during “Ray of Light” – the decades of experience at songwriting and placing the instrumentation/melodies in the right spots ensures little (if any) skipping of tracks. All would be for naught if Nikola couldn’t showcase multiple facets of control, strength, and versatility that is needed for the variety on display. Well, rest assured the man has the pipes, personal charm, and determination to make songs like “Soul Divider” and thunderous double kick-infused “Queen of Lies” shining staples of Serious Black’s confidence at their craft. Keyboardist Bob Katsionis returns in fine form, providing additional songwriting support beyond his superior fluid runs. Add in the personal lyrical topics ripped from bassist Mario Lochert’s relationship situation over a four-year span and it’s easy to tell that these musicians poured everything they had in the studio for these performances, emptying the tank this go around when many others may have just coasted into this reinvention of the band.
Many may compare Vengeance Is Mine to the debut effort As Daylight Breaks – which seems very accurate to this scribe. Chock full of catchy songs, Serious Black keep melodic power metal standing tall.