Pictured – The Strand Of Time.

 Pictured, from Quimper in Brittany are yet another quality metal band to hail from France and their debut full length studio album The Strand Of Time is another contender for my album of 2012. Released  May 25th, on Klonosphere/Season Of Mist Records, via Viral Propaganda PR. Formed in 2007 and having only previously released 2 ep’s ( Sons Of The Night in 2008 and The Dwelling in 2010 ) , The Strand Of Time is a headbanger’s delight due to the stunning musicianship on all levels. It has all the elements of Dragonforce type guitar solos, old school thrash metal time changes and the vocals of Niko Beleg rant and rave like a higher ranged Tom G Warrior.

                                                                       All 9 tracks are classics so its impossible to pick out tracks that stand out from the others but personal highlights are the Megadeth speed metal technicality of opener Another, the Arch Enemy stomp of  Howling Forest, the stunning guitar passages midway through Black Bile, Niko’s vocal conviction on Curses, the high speed thrash grooves of Stranger and best of all, the Eastern tinged title track with some jaw dropping time changes.

The Strand Of Time album track listing :-

Another.

Metal.

Howling Forest.

Black Bile.

To Hell And Back.

Curses.

The Dwelling.

Stranger.

The Strand Of  Time.

Pictured band line up :-

Niko Beleg – Vocals/guitar.

Thomas Coic – Drums.

Sebastien Le Bellec – Guitar.

Sylvain Coic – Bass.

I award The Strand Of Time album 10/10!