Powerstroke – Once… We Were Kings

Releasedate: 26-03-2010; Label:
By: Sabine van Gameren

The Belgian metal act Powerstroke comes with their debut album “Once We Were Kings”.

Powerstroke is a name that sticks for what it says. It’s all over noisy though. A bit too much in the direction of “screaming your guts out of your body”. The vocals are not the part that’s get easily loved, nor does it warm me up for any curiosity considering the rest the band can offer a listener that has not seen this act coming around. The band brings some groove which may stitch the wound, but the faith in it coming to something to like isn’t much alive. The band keeps their consistency throughout the whole record, the songs match each other well, but a little more playful track list could have been welcomed. Maybe a different order would have worked better.
Sometimes you get the idea the band have chosen to release this album as soon as possible instead of take some time to think it over and make different decisions. Some sloppy parts here and there, a production that could have been done way better and a rushed album as its outcome. For me this album ain’t a winner, there is better than that.

Line up:
Jonathan Matthijs: Vocals
Maarten Geeraerts: Guitar
Pieter Daelman: Drums

Tracklist: 01. Humble Prayer 02. A Better Man 03. Luvgun 04. 00 Zero 05. Up Yours 06. My Toxic Nightmare 07. The Restless 08. Out Of The Blue 09. Dirty Devil 10. When Love Is Denied 11. Once… We Were Kings

Links:
Powerstroke MySpace