Oh, hey! Looking for a straightforward no-b.s. rock/metal album? Well, you’re in luck, because Victory and their new record Circle of Life will be here to rock your face off. I don’t say this often, but I have been blasting this record almost non-stop since I first got it. This German hard rock/heavy metal outfit since the mid-80’s delivers in spades hook-laden songwriting that stands the test of time, catchy on both the musical and vocal fronts. With a fantastic blend of 80’s metal and today’s hard rock it’s a recipe for success. At least I think so!
Starting with Gianni Pontillo on the vocals it’s hard not to get hooked from the opener “Tonight We Rock”. Next tune “American Girl” sees the guitar duo of veteran Herman Frank (ex-Accept) and Mike Pesin lighting it up. Next up we have “Count on Me” which features bassist Malte Frederik Burkert and drummer Michael Stein pounding away, making it an instant favorite for this guy! Still hungry? Then have a dish of killer riffs thanks to “Surrender My Heart.” “Unbelievable World”, “Moonlit Sky”, and “Falling” showcase a nice one-two-three combo that will have heads banging and horns flying for sure. Next up is my other favorite “Money”, a tune I gotta hit at least three times before continuing.
Wrapping things up we have “Reason to Love” and closer “Virtual Sin” which once again kicks things up several notches before we go. When it’s all said and done Victory delivered a great album with Circle of Life and this one is 100% on my list of 2024’s best albums!!
Standout Tracks: All of them!