Herman Frank – Loyal To None

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After recording with Accept, Victory and Sinner, Loyal To None is the first solo album from guitarist Herman Frank, with vocals provided by Victory band-mate Jiotis Parachidis, plus Running Wild bassist Peter Pichl and former Helloween, Krokus, Accept and U.D.O. drummer Stefan Schwarzmann. Frank shreds like it’s the 1980s from the opening bars of Moon II and as the melodic metal supergroup line-up would suggest, this could more or less be a new Victory record with more guitar playing. Fans of Scorpions, Ring of Fire and Axel Rudi Pell will find a lot to like in the blistering solos and big rock riffs of the heavier tracks (Hero, Father Buries Son, Welcome To Hell) and some of the less-heavy pure rockers (Bastard Legions) as much as album-highlight power ballad Heal Me, which spares nothing on the lead guitar either. Frank’s first foray into solo recording is a successful one and hopefully he can take this band on the road to play this material alongside some Victory songs, and maybe even tracks by some of his other previous bands. The versatile Parachidis, who demonstrates a fabulous range on this record, could certainly pull off most of them.

Written by Andy Lye
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