Fifth Angel's 'The Third Secret' - Album Review

When it comes to American progressive/power metal from the 1980s, there are quite a few popular examples to choose from. Queensrÿche, Fates Warning, Crimson Glory, and Dream Theater are some of the main examples and exponents of the genre that instantly come to mind, but there have been plenty more lesser-known bands over the years that have significantly added to that body of work. The Washington State-based outfit Fifth Angel are one such band. While never truly breaking through, the band have a cult following across the world, and the two studio albums that they released in the 1980s are both considered to be minor classics of the progressive/power metal genre. The band's self-titled album from 1986 and their 1989 opus Time Will Tell are both played fairly regularly in my house, and they come out when I want some more straight ahead and hard hitting progressive/power metal. Fifth Angel never had the histrionics or the twists and turns of their more-lauded peers, but had a tough sound that worked for them. It was a real shame that the band's career never truly took off, as by 1990 the band were over with a lack of label support being the main reason for their demise. Incarnations of the band briefly reunited for a few shows in both 2010 and 2017, and the latter couple of live appearances seems to have been the catalyst for a new, more permanent incarnation of Fifth Angel. With live guests helping to bulk the band out at their recent shows, the new permanent Fifth Angel is a three-piece - a big difference to the original five-piece line-ups. Original drummer Ken Mary, who is the most-travelled member of the group having also done turns with Alice Cooper and House of Lords to name but a couple of the acts he has since been involved with, has been joined by long-time members guitarist Kendall Bechtel and bassist John Macko. Bechtel and Macko were both a part of Time Will Tell back in the late 1980s so are a big part of Fifth Angel history. This new core of the band has been working on new material over the past year or so, and the result is The Third Secret, the band's third album and first for 29 years! Original vocalist Ted Pilot has not been involved with the band since the 1980s due to his 'new' career as a dentist, so the vocals during the recent shows have been handled by guest singers. For this new album however, Bechtel has taken the role upon himself and has proved to be more than a capable singer. Pilot was never the most diverse of singers, but was the right fit for the band, and Bechtel has picked up where he left off. At times there is a little bit of Ronnie James Dio in Bechtel's voice, which is high praise indeed, and his vocal style is a big reason why The Third Secret is such a powerful sounding album. He also shares keyboard duties with Mary, and with all three members of the band contributing to the songwriting The Third Secret is a true team effort.

The album opens in fine fashion with Stars are Falling, a fairly fast-paced piece that really sets the tone for the rest of the album. Shredding guitar leads dominate the song's intro, before a strident verse introduces Bechtel as a vocalist. His performance is strong, and opens with a a convincing power metal scream, and it seems he is the man to take Fifth Angel forward. The verses are somewhat standard, but the choruses are very strong. Mary's double bass drumming really brings them to life, and the backing vocals that enhance the melodies sound like something from the 1980s. Being that he now sings as well as handling off the lead guitar parts, Bechtel's contributions to the album really dominate. A soaring, shredded guitar solo finds itself a home in the song, which the icing on the cake of the opening to the band's first album for nearly three decades! We Will Rise is more of a mid-paced tune, with a powerful riff backed up by some more strong drumming from Mary. While not the most explosive of drummers, Mary's style is perfect for the band. The clear, rumbling double bass drum patterns were very popular in the 1980s, and it is great to see them resurrected here. The song sounds like an old Dio track, and includes a strong chorus that sees Bechtel hitting some relatively high notes as well as plenty of melodic guitar leads. In my opinion the song is one of the album's early highlights and shares a lot of the band's past, as well as the great metal of the 1980s in general. Queen of Thieves is a real highlight however. It is the only song on the album over five minutes in length, and it packs all the punch that you would expect from the band. The Dio comparisons are still accurate here, with big power chords cutting through the mix, subtle keyboard textures creating an atmosphere, and Macko's bass really adding some depth. The verses creep with real menace, and sees Bechtel laying down a really mature vocal performance while the music starts and stops around him. The chorus is heavier, with more high pitched vocals, but the real highlight is the neo-classical guitar solo which is packed full of fantastic licks. Some of the runs have a bit of an Eastern flavour to them which really help the song to establish its own character. Dust to Dust picks up the pace a little again, and opens with a power guitar workout that is filled with dual-guitar leads and shredded runs. The energy that permeates from the song is very contagious, with the whole band working together to really drive everything forward. Despite some strong vocals, this really is a song for the guitarists. The shredded intro really sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is filled with guitar trickery. Little leads are thrown in at regular intervals for effect, and the lengthier solo section pulls it all together into one big whole.

Can You Hear Me was the first song to be released from the album online, and it is more of an atmospheric piece with a slow build up that explodes into a classic 1980s heavy metal chorus. Chiming clean guitar lines dominate the verses, and this allows Bechtel to demonstrate the softer side of his voice. While Pilot was a strong singer, I think that Bechtel is actually a more diverse and versatile vocalist. His performance throughout the album is very good, and this song showcases him attempting a few different styles. His guitar solo is also a strong one, and it conveys the emotions of the song perfectly. It is not as fast or reliant on shredded licks as many of the others, instead making careful note choices that really ring out through the speakers. While not a true ballad, it is probably the song on the album that resembles one the closest so it provides a good change of pace. This is War is unsurprisingly heavier, with Mary dominating the piece with a heavy drumming performance and Bechtel's coarser vocals adding a rawer edge. There is a real classic heavy metal feel to the song, with bands like Judas Priest and Accept certainly referenced here -  as well some of the classic thrash acts in some of the riffing and drum parts. This is probably the heaviest piece on the album, and it really helps to ramp the power back up again after the slower previous number. Fatima follows and it has a creepy vibe throughout that is dominated by strange synths and chiming clean guitar melodies. It is another slow song, but again it does not really qualify as a ballad, especially when the heavier instruments come in to add some power late on. It is a short song, but one that does not pass by without a leaving a mark. The overall vibe is extremely strange, but it works well. There is still room for another stunning guitar solo, with some more excellent neo-classical runs, as well as a powerful bass performance from Macko who's playing often cuts throughout the mix. His playing is relatively restrained throughout the album, but there are a few little runs throughout this song that stand out and make his presence known.

The album's title track is one of the main singles, and is another strident mid-paced piece with fairly slow riffing, a bass-led verse, and dramatic vocals from Bechtel. Anthemic is a good word to use to describe the piece, as the simple chorus lends itself to being played live, and the big riff and punchy drums set a perfect headbanging rhythm. It also has fairly prominent keyboards throughout, something which is not that common elsewhere on the album. Gothic choirs are mixed into the background throughout, and the choruses have symphonic flourishes added from the keyboards. In many respect, this is probably one of the album's most defining songs as it really showcases the band working together as a unit, and is sure to stick in the brain after hearing it. Shame on You picks up the pace again, and is possibly the fastest song here, with lots of fast double bass drumming from Mary and some flashy riffing from Bechtel that includes some squealing pinch harmonics added for effect. The pace never really lets up throughout the song, and as a result has a bit of a modern power metal sound, but mixed with a real classic heavy metal vibe. Mary turns in a really strong performance here, with drum patterns that barely let up, but everyone pulls their weight to make the song a powerful one. The chorus could be a little catchier in my opinion, but the speed and power make up for the fairly average melodies. A fast, shredded guitar solo is the icing on the cake, and only helps the song to sound faster and more intense as it moves towards the end. The album's final song, Hearts of Stone, is another faster piece but is reigned in slightly when compared to the previous number. It is much more melodic overall however, with a strong chorus and plenty of little guitar leads that are thrown in to spice things up here and there. The Dio comparisons are back again, there is a lot of Dio's atmosphere and style to found here. The vocals really soar, and it ensures that the album ends on a real high. The energy in the song alone is enough to make the album feel like it closes well, but the strong melodies really add to this feeling. Overall, The Third Secret is a really strong comeback from Fifth Angel and an album that I certainly did not expect to be receiving this year. Since the album has been recorded, original guitarist Ed Archer has rejoined the band, bulking the band's line-up back up to a four-piece. I will be interested to see what the future for Fifth Angel holds, and whether The Third Secret kick starts a second career for the band. I hope so, but even if this album turns out to be a bit of a one-off then it will have still been a success.

The album was released on the 26th October 2018 via Nuclear Blast Records. Below is the band's promotional video for The Third Secret.