Metal Crusade Webzine

The Swedish power metal scene is getting better and better! This rather new band, playing Symphonic Melodic Speed/Power Metal, kinda like a mix between Labyrinth, Edguy and Rhapsody have released their first full-lenght album "Possesion of Power", and it's completely awesome! It might not be the most original bands I've ever heard, but does that really matter, as long as traditional medieval power metal is awesome? Lots of double bass drumming, energy, great guitar solos and an awesome voice, makes this one of the best releases of 1999. If you like Hammerfall, Labyrinth, Edguy, Rhapsody, Helloween etc... you can't go wrong with this record, especially if you find the medieval/classical influences in power metal specially attractive! Although there's a lot of awesome songs here, my favourite track must be the epic, over 7 minutes long final track "Ancient Prophecy". Other awesome songs are "Cast a Spell", with a really awesome intro, riff and chorus, "The Signs" - powerful song though it has a bit cheesy intro, and "World of Steel" the more traditional metal song on this release. I don't know what more I should say, except these three words: Buy or Die!

- Erlend

Reaktor Netzine (4/5p)

It`s really a nice band Loud `n proud has dug up. The guys in Morifade has the potential to reach for on the music market. Good melodies mixed with fast riff`s and a great singer. Also like their song DragonLord (to everybody who doesn`t know, DragonLord is the name of my band) But there are certain things I feel like i`ve heard before. Therefore it only gets a 4. But otherwise Morifade is a nice and cool group which i recomend to everybody who`s into power metal.

- Peter

PRCA/Emperor Multimedia (9/10p)

Another CD from this Swedish band, their first full length; their discography contains three total. This was a very satisfying recording. Again, high quality of both the music and production and a continuation of the
fantasy scene are the hallmarks of this band. This CD starts off right away with the themes and powerful gothic and medieval fantasy lyrics and a heavy metal music score that constantly makes you want to listen more to find out what your ears will discover next; this disc turns your auditory nerves into great explorers. In my opinion the best track was track 2 (Dragonloard) but don't let that influence you into believing that only one track was fresh and creative - no the whole disc right down to the artwork was stunning.

Barcode Magazine (4/5p)

I was looking forward to this release as I`ve had their debut MCD "Across the starlit sky" for quite a while and found it very promising. Morifade is a Swedish four-piece and the band has recruited a new lead singer since the release of the MCD. Morifade is another band to join the new wave of dungeons and dragons-metal, but what makes this an interesting acquaintance is that Morifade do this very well and is not just another untalented band jumping on the bandwagon. Morifade play power/speed metal with classical elements and a strong symphonic influence. Bands like Rhapsody comes to mind. This is very guitar-dominated, the fretwork is excellent and powerful. You got pounding double-bass drumming and the music is backed up with superb classically influenced keys. They also blend in strings, choirs, flutes etc. The singer is high-pitched. His voice is not at all strenuous, but clear and effortless, very good indeed. The songs are all of high quality, the melody-lines are accessible and melodic. The more I listen to the songs, the more I like them. You can find new elements each time you listen to it. The musicianship, composing and arrangements are top notch. If there`s any drawback to this release (besides the accented narrator) it has to be the production, well, don`t get me wrong, the production is in fact good, but the volume level of the recording is too low, compared to other cds, so you will need to crank up the volume. This is just a minor detail though, as this is fixed in a second by turning up the volume. "Posession of power" is a very good cd and a safe purchase for fans of this music. Recommended!!!

- Bjørnar Bevolden

Le Secret de l'Acier/Secret of Steel (3,5/6p)

Morifade, a group resulting from the Swedish scene, appears here with its first album of Power Metal melody, in the line of its compatriots Hammerfall, Nocturnal Rites and, less memorable, Steel Attack. For a first album, this young formation succeeded in without sorrow equalizing its elder, and that in spite of a rather poor production. In compensation, the compositions are particularly rich and it is obvious that the four members of Morifade have a real talent to write very good songs. **time-out** the song melodies of Stephan Petersson are very pleasant and he agree perfectly with the side epics of each title support by the guitar of Jesper
Johansson, not very conclusive, but shall some melody along eleven titles of "Possession of Power". Some "more" come decorate the album like an intervention symphonic (the superb "Ending of Time"), some sublime choirs on the ballad "A Northen Rhyme" and the good narration ("Ancient Prophecy"). Morifade is of course a true hope with an enormous potential which could ridicule its compatriots of the melody scene to the next album. With a better production and a more powerful sound "Possession of Power" would have been the head of "True Metal Swedish" than one always waits. It does not remain about it less one of the most beautiful successes in the kind.

Heavy Weight

In difference to other records, you only need to hear this once to love it. It has a good presentation, good production, good musicians and, over all, very good songs. Their style, even being fast, is not that kind of Speed Metal of bands like Blind Guardian, however it could be well compared to Stratovarius, for example. To choose only one favourite song is impossible to me, but i would detach "Ending Of Time", the magnificent ballad "My Own Majesty" or "A Northern Rhyme" with great chorus by part of the "Tannefors Gospel Choir". To me this record is greater than a lot of the new bands albums that i have listened to. We only hope that the next album could be as good as "Possession Of Power".

- Rorro

Underground Empire, issue #19 (9,5/10)

Yes, they still exist - Power Metal-bands that really make you listen up. After a much sought-after mini-CD named "Across The Starlit Sky", the Swedish MORIFADE are thundering through a Power Metal-jewel titled "Possession Of Power" that makes your ears ring. Already the opener "Dragonlord" offers fast double-bass-Power Metal with a strong choir in the chorus, just like "The Signs". Epic mid-tempo excels with "Ending Of Time", "The Vision And The Temple" and "World Of Steel", the ballad "My Own Majesty" is snuggling into your ear and the over-long "Ancient Prophecy" is pure epic! But "primus inter paris", speak the best among equals, is "A Northern Rhyme". After a thunder and rain, a track unfolds with keyboards, piano and vocals, that is MORIFADE's "Crown And The Ring". The story of a fallen Viking warrior that comes to Valhalla is transferred into sound perfectly, including flutes and mighty choirs, although not as bombastic as MANOWAR. Instead of getting lost in the thicket of HAMMERFALL-copycats, everybody who calls himself Power Metal-fan, or even "only" Heavy Metal-fan, should let himself possessed by the power of this album, he/she will not be dis-appointed for sure! Two thumbs up!

- The Shadow

Musica Web-zine (8/10p)

From the name of album, you already can understand that it's power-metal. I can't say, that this masterpiece is very original, but it's not featureless. Melodies is interesting enough. Vocalist is somewhere in "Hansen" district. There is some ballads, beautiful fantasy keyboards a-la Rhapsody. This is work for lovers of music of Rhapsody and Gamma Ray. Everything's done on good level of first league of power-metal. Power music is on good level at all and this album confirms it. To fans of power...

- Vitaliy

Metal Force Magazine (90/100)

After the release of the Mini-CD "Across The Starlit Sky", the swedish band called Morifade returns with its real debut Album. "Possession Of Power" displays a brilliant Speed/Power Metal with some incursions into the
Epic Metal (which makes Morifade somehow close to the italian band Domine). The Epic side is emphasized by the use of bombastic choirs à-la Rhapsody and Secret Sphere and by the "fantasy" lyrics (tales of dragons, warriors and battles). The four guys of the band know very well how to write a "catchy" song and already listening to the first two songs ("Dragonlord" and "Cast A Spell") it is clear that all we have here is a brilliant album. Singer Stefan Petersson does a great work, with the help of hyper-speed guitarist Jesper Johansson and keyboard player Jacob Hudden, very close to the "keys wizard" Jens Johansson. To sum up, the sound of the album is much closer to the actual Power-Metal productions coming out of Italy nowadays than to the releases of northern bands like Stratovarius, Kenziner and Helloween. The great ability in the arrangements and the superbe instrumental skill make "Possession Of Power" a real must for any fan into this kind of sound.

- Primo Bonali

Scream Magazine (4/6p)

Svenske Morifade er bandet som vil treffe fans av tysk melodiøs power metal midt i trynet. Noen av dere stiftet kanskje bekjentskap med bandet på mini CD'en <<Across the Starlit Sky>>, til dere må jeg bare få si at bandet har blitt bedre siden den gang. Ny vokalist har de også, og låtmaterialet er mye jevnere og bedre arrangert denne gangen. Skiva er litt lavt innspillt så volumknappen trenger å justeres noe for å få fullt utbytte av musikken. Stilmessigt låter bandet som en mellomting av Blind Guardian og Pretty Maids, og når gutta virkelig treffer så låter det sinnsykt fett! <<Possession of Power>> er et veldig bra album, men jeg føler enda at bandet har mye mer å gå på...

- Frode Øien

Altars Of Metal

At last, the long-awaited work of Morifade reached my hands, from Sweden. Their first full-length CD is a real dynamite! Powerful and melodic power metal plumed with beautiful melodies, inspiring choruses and alternations in the rhythms that will charm you. The epic element also makes some moments its presence sensible. The band is obviously influenced from Stratovarius. Some people may also say the word "extremely" influenced by them. The truth is that some parts of the CD remind strongly the great Finnish, something that does not distress me at all. I consider necessary that all the friends of melodic power metal will obtain this CD. Personally, I comprehend it in the best ones who were released in the whole 1999! Morifade's future is assigned bright!

- Michael "The Wild Runner" Savoidakis

Undertow Magazine (8/10p)

After a successful mini CD this Swedish band returns with this full-length album. Morifade is a speed / power metal band who was founded in the early nineties. After an epic and narrated intro we are off for about 50 minutes of epic, speed metal. At the moment the market is flooded by this kind of bands. Morifade is one of the best in the genre. The four guys know how to write catchy tunes and also how to deliver them in a convincing way. To do this they called in the help of two narrators, Soprano's, an alto, a tenor and also a choir. Lyrics are of course about fantasy stuff, like dragons and mighty warriors. Vocalist Stefan Petersson is doing his job in a convincing way. So to conclude we can say that Morifade has delivered here an excellent album.

- Bruno Van de Velde

Loot & Plunder E-zine (88/100p)

Morifade is a Swedish Melodic Power Metal band playing in the mold of German bands like Helloween and Blind Guardian. Their debut mini CD "Across The Starlit Sky" showed great potential and was quite similar to Blind Guardian partly because the singer was similar to Hansi Kursch. Morifade, however changed vocalists somewhere between that mini CD and their first full length release "Possession Of Power". With the new vocalist in the mix and a less rough production, the band sounds closest to fellow Swedes Nocturnal Rites
(Sacred Talisman.) Songs are catchy and fast and there are a few nice melodies here and there that you have not heard before. I like this band. They are not anything special just yet but if you like up tempo pop metal like Hammerfall, Nocturnal Rites and Keeper2, you will dig this band. Musicianship is very good and the singer has a very likeable voice compared to some in this genre who seem to get annoying after a while.

HOT SPOTS: The Ending Of Time, To Live Forever, Ancient Prophecy, Cast A Spell
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Fans of Swedish Speed Metal (Hammerfall, Nocturnal Rites etc.), Power Metal Fans in general, Fans who like catchy songs, you don't gotta work to like these guys
WHO WON'T LIKE THIS: Fans who hate Hammerfall and other Helloween wannabes, Fans of Progressive music will find this too simple
BOTTOM LINE: 88 of 100 points (Highly Recommended, this is quality metal)

- Matt the Pirate

Hard Roxx (8,5/10p)

Along with U.N.IT, Morifade are probably the best thing that Loud 'N' Proud currently have on their books, or at least they are as far as the stuff I've heard is concerned. An impossibly young looking power metal combo from Sweden (just take a peek at the guitarist's photo in the CD booklet), Morifade take their lead from that classic Helloween sound, embellishing it with some slightly more up to date influences. And yes, I know you've probably heard that comparison more times than you care to remember (so have I), but I can honestly say I haven't heard a band come this close to that mighty 'Keeper Of The Seven Keys' sound in ages. Backed by some tasty packaging and what is a surprisingly clear production given the inevitable budgetary constraints, it's pretty obvious that the record company believe they've found themselves a real talent for the future. And after just one spin of 'Possession Of Power' I must admit I found myself thinking along similar lines. Although this doesn't quite mach 'KOTSK' in the songwriting stakes, that should come with time and experience, and as for everything else - ability, attitude, style, etc - Morifade appear to have it in droves. Whilst all the band deserve a mention, to these ears top honours should be split between vocalist Stefan Petersson (also the main writer), (No he isn?t!/Henke-MORIFADE) whose Geoff Tate meets Michael Kiske vocal delivery is just about up there with the Timo Kotipelto's (Stratovarius) of this world; and guitarist Jesper Johansson who has all the enthusiasm and exuberance of a young Kai Hansen - if he's as young as he looks, I guess he must have been born with a Strat in his hands! Operating in the same power metal arena as bands like HammerFall and the hugely underrated Nocturnal Rites, Morifade bring to bear a range of other influences such as Stratovarius, Blind Guardian and maybe even touches of Rhapsody, although 'Possession Of Power' is nowhere near as pompously overblown as the Italian giants. When an album comes out of the blue like this, sporting as it does a consistently impressive set of songs, it's very difficult to be objective about the merits of one particular track over another. However, from a purely personal point of view, the following tracks made a particularly lasting impression. For starters, 'My Own Majesty' is an exceedingly catchy neo-classical power ballad, with a great hook and some tastefully restrained lead guitar - the band's use of background orchestration is also well thought out and pitched at just the right level. Elsewhere, you can take your pick from the likes of 'Dragonlord' (good Blind Guardian), the Stratovarius styled 'Ending Of Time' and 'The Vision And The Temple' ('Babylon' part 2 perhaps?), or 'Cast A Spell' which is about the closest they come to emulating the mighty riffs of 'Keeper ...' era Helloween. That's not to take anything away from the other songs though, as I'm sure that 'The Signs', 'World Of Steel' or 'To Live Forever' et al will also find favour with power metal fans the world over. We could just be witnessing the birth of something very special indeed.

- Dave Cockett

Catchy Hooks (8,5/10p)

Have Mercy! MORIFADE are a Swedish band in the grand tradition of the Melodic(German) Power metal scene around today and I must say that í´m absolutely hooked on these guys. Stefan Petersson(Vocals)Jesper Johansson(Guitars) Henrik Weimedal(Bass) & Kim Arnell(Drums) are influenced by German bands such as: Helloween / Blind Guardian (on their most melodic album:Somewhere far beyond) and Stratovarius,but Morifade are maybe a little bit more melodic. The Harmony/Backing vocals on this CD are just superb! as they are using a Gospel Choir on many of the songs. Together with the keyboards that they are using,they get a really mighty Power/ Symphonic Metal sound. "Dragonlord" is an unbelievable catchy song that every
fan of above mentioned bands will love! In fact it´s much better and Melodic than the typical German bands.
"Cast a spell" is a good Power rocker with a nice chorus "Ending of time" is again a superb song with a catchy chorus "My own destiny" is a great Piano Power ballad with a very strong chorus! and the choir/harmony vocals are really mighty. "To live forever" sounds a lot like Helloween and "The Vision and the temple"
sounds like a mixture of Doom and Power Metal. The album is produced by Jan Strandh & Morifade and it sounds great !This CD is a must if you like Melodic Power Metal.

Bright Eyes Magazine (8,5/10p)

Snacket på förhand var stort så nu var det bara att vänta och se ifall de högt ställda förväntningarna skulle infrias på bandets första fullängdare. Svaret är ja! Det är högklassisk melodisk power metal med BLIND GUARDIAN och RHAPSODY som två stora inspirationskällor. Kraftfullt och med starka melodier. Intressant att även höra vilket lyckat resultat det blev med gospelkören som finns med på några spår. Med de pampiga körerna har man åstadkommit starka låtarrangemang. Fartfyllda "Dragonlord", trallvänliga "Ending Of Time", vackra "A Northern Rhyme" och episka "Ancient Prophecy" är fyra ess ur en mycket stark lek. Att man har en alldeles utomordentlig sångare i Stefan Petersson gör inte saken sämre. Högklassisk svensk metal!

- Micke Svensson

Janne Stark

At first I though Morifade was a death metal band and didn't pay any greater attention. Well, wrong was I. This band will really give Hammerfall a run for their money. These guys do what they do and they really do it well. I can't say I'm overthrilled with the new wave of "dragon-warrior-sword-in-the-night" type "German" metal. It was quite fun in the beginning, but like any other over-exploited style, it's fades quickly. However, I have given these lads a fair chance and I must say this is really good. They tend to lean more towards bands like Rhapsody and Angra, blending the up-tempo melodic metal with strings, keyboards, flutes and a Gospel Choir. They have an excellent singer in Stefan Petersson, a real high pitch vocalist with great strength and clarity in his voice. The band is also gifted with killer-guitarist Jesper Weimedal. (What!?!/Henke) Songs like "Ending Of Time" and the epical "Ancient Prophecy" also offers a slightly different approach in this slightly narrow genre. The production is done by another hero, not to be forgotten, Jan Strandh (guitarist extra-ordinaire in Zanity, Master Massive). If you're into the aforementioned bands, this is a safe buy. Also check out the band's MCD "Across The Starlit Sky".

- Janne Stark

Tidningen Nolltretton (3/5p)

Power-metal från Vikingstad, känns väl inte direkt som att man kan dra några likhetstecken mellan de orden?
Men oj vad vi bedrar oss! Ett av de bättre banden som kommit fram ur skuggan kommer just från Vikingstad.
Det är Morifade som släpper sin första fullängdare på Loud N' Proud records. Med svulstiga ljudmattor går de till attack och anfaller hejdlöst. "Possession of Power" har klassiska inslag och påminner lite om avsomnade bandet Magnum. Kanske är musikstilen lite tradig och kan i stora mängder bli lite långtråkig. Morifade är bra på det de gör och det låter mer proffsigt än vad antal släppta skivor visar. Med lite mer variation så kan nog
Morifade erövra ännu större makter, detta lovar gott inför nästa skiva.

- Marcus Lundin

Östgöta Correspondenten (3/5p)

POWERMETAL FRÅN den östgötska slätten, kan det va nåt? Visst är denna smått pompösa genre aningen uttjatad och smått patetisk med sina rollspelsaktiga texter, hysteriska falsettsångare samt kvasiklassiska arrangemang.Ändå klarar sig Vikingstadsgrabbarna i Morifade ganska bra. De besitter en osviklig stilkänsla, har en duktig sångare i Stefan Petersson och vet att snickra ihop riffen till hållbara låtar. Jämfört med debuten är detta helt klart ett steg i rätt riktning. På minuskontot finns en något vek produktion samt några låtar som inte riktigt håller, men i stort är detta ändå med beröm godkänt.

- Jerry Prütz

The French Connection

Following to their acclaimed mCD " Across the starlit sky ", Morifade finnaly issued its long awaited album.
In fact, you only need the first song " Dragonlord " to be seduce by Morifade. This young Swedish band has to be put between Hammerfall, Maiden, Helloween & all the major metal acts. For sure, Morifade wil soon be one of them as this album is a pure majestic power metal release. 10 metal hymns in the pure nordic tradition. The band has now shared the stage with Grave digger & Iron Saviour. Morifade is on the raod to worldwide success. We have all been crushed by Hammerfall, a few years ago, now it's time for Morifade to become the new metal sensation. The 2000 year wil lbe very exciting with Morifade. From loud backing vocals , powerful melodies & forcefull guitar riffs, this band delivers the ultimate heavy metal, power metal album. Let the place to the young metal gods !

- Laurent Bocquet

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