This Fantastic Band returns with their 4th album Release since the band first emerged as TEMPLAR, soon to become ORDER OF NINE with their 2nd effort, ORDER OF NINE garnered excellent reviews and radio airplay worldwide with their last album "OF ONCE AND FUTURE KINGS." "SEASON OF REIGN" is set to take them to the next level. ORDER OF NINE has attitude and taste, with killer heavy guitars, deeper, throatier "Tate" type vocals and great songs. ORDER OF NINE is ready to unleash they're new Metal storm on the world, prepare for "SEASON OF REIGN" Mixed and produced by Bill Korecky Mastered by Roger Lian at Masterdisk. REVIEWS------- After toiling for eight years under different band names (including Templar), with various bass players and through a series of compilation and tribute albums, Pennsylvania’s Order of Nine finally seems to have things falling into place. A record deal with Nightmare Records (vocalist Lance King’s label) and a melodically dark third album called Season of Reign may finally get this quartet with three guys named Michael some increased recognition. Doomy riffs and a chugging rhythm section lay the foundation for vocalist Michael DeGrena to take these songs to the next level. With a voice combining elements of ex-Iced Earth singer Matt Barlow and Queensryche’s Geoff Tate (it’s no wonder that Templar appeared on the Rebellion Queensryche tribute album, covering “The Thin Line”), DeGrena wraps his pipes around these songs and never lets go. His melodramatic, occasionally operatic, delivery could grow tiresome if it wasn’t for Season of Reign’s decent pacing, highlighted by the metal hymn “Somnia Requiem.” “Nameless,” an atmospheric and semi-acoustic bonus track, is out of step with the rest of the album but provides further insight into this band’s depth. Track Listing: 1) Learn the Way 2) Some Sort of God 3) Bloodline 4) The End 5) Moment of Weakness 6) Vow of Silence 7) Bull Run 8) A Matter of Pride 9) Somnia Requiem 10) Betrayal Bonus Track: Nameless Added: April 14th 2005 Reviewer: Michael Popke PUBLICATION - SEA OF TRANQUILITY Score: 4/5 STARS Related Link: Official Order of Nine Web Site ---- Comments: Finally! A kick-a** metal CD with ultra heavy power riffs and spirited leads and solo work. In a world ever dominated by “nu” metal and progressive metal wannabe’s, Order Of Nine brings the goods and no one with any sense and a love of pure power metal would dare disagree. Mike Degrena, the vocalist, brings it like Geoff Tate only five times harder and several keys deeper. The guitar work of Michael Chiccitt though is the ultimate highlight of the album and it rips, shreds and tears bone from sinewy muscle. He is fast yet clean, reminiscent of some of the best of Vivian Campbell with small quick bursts of powerful solo work. Some examples of this great axe work are an ultra-clean, piercing guitar solo in “Somnia Requiem,” the distortion laced solo in “Learn the Way” or the manic solo on “Vow of Silence.” There just isn’t enough space to name the best track on the album because you’d have to name every single song! Their overall sound is similar to old Dio or even a slightly muted Metal Church, with a twist of NWOBHM feel. Drums of Michael Sirera that lead yet don’t overpower the guitar riffs, spirited vocals and excellent lyrics: this is a recipe for metal stardom. The bass also shines as it lays a nice hard line and occasionally gets a chance to show off a little, like towards the end of “Learn the Way.” The CD even has a power metal ballad, “Nameless,” where Degrena shines on vocals and the guitar is beautiful. The bottom line is this album is outstanding and the band and label should be tremendously proud of this piece of metal artwork. Get online now and buy this power metal trip. Band Members: Mike Degrena-Vocals, Mike Sirera-Drums, Mike Chiccitt-Guitars, Jack Buckolt-Bass Guitar Track Listing: 1. Learn the Way 2. Some sort of God 3. Bloodline 4. The End 5. Monment of Weakness 6. Vow of Silence 7. Bull Run 8. A Matter of Pride 9. Somnia Requiem 10. Betrayal 11. Nameless Rating: 8.6/10 Reviewer: Matthew Hoffman MAGAZINE - HARDROCK HAVEN -------- Order Of Nine: Season of Reign Schon der Erstling der mysteriösen Order Of Nine war ein exzellentes Undergroundjuwel (nachzulesen hier). Nun, knappe fünf Jahre später, geschieht tatsächlich das Wunder und die Band kehrt zurück! So etwas ist umso schöner, wenn der Stil, mit dem man einen ersten Eindruck hinterließ, beibehalten wird. Und genau das haben Order Of Nine mit "Season of Reign" getan. Erstmal überrascht der Hinweis im Booklet, das dieses Album bereits im April/Mai 2003 aufgenommen wurde und dann hat sich mit Nightmare Records tatsächlich ein (Kleinst)Label der Band angenommen Respekt für den Mut - denn viel verkaufen wird sich "Season of Reign" wohl kaum. Dazu ist diese Art Metal zu anspruchsvoll und zu gut. Um einen Eindruck vom musikalischen Gehalt zu bekommen, könnte man eigentlich Olivers Review vom Debüt 1:1 übernehmen - verändert hat sich wenig. Und das ist verdammt gut so, denn die Band mit den drei Michaels zockt noch immer packenden, kraftvollen Power Metal, der jedoch keinesfalls mit der europäischen Happy-Variante in einen Topf geworfen werden sollte. Dafür sorgt schon der gewöhnungsbedürftige Gesang von Michael DeGrena, der mir zwar ausgezeichnet gefällt (und der mich immer mehr an William Wren (Ex-Oracle, nun Mystic Force) erinnert), aber auch wohl einige abschrecken dürfte. Das famose Doppel "Bloodline" und "The End" (mit großartigem Gitarrensolo) eignet sich wohl am besten als musikalischer Appetizer - Jag Panzer meets Metal Church meets Powersurge trifft es zwar nicht perfekt, kommt dem Gehörten aber schon durchaus nahe. Eingängig sind Order Of Nine kaum - dafür gibt es viele Details zu entdecken, die es immer wieder spannend machen, dem Rundling zu lauschen. Dass man es auch schnell kann, beweist "Bull Run" - der Titel ist Programm. Das krasse Gegenteil zu dem rennenden Bullen ist die wunderschöne Halbballade "Somnia Requiem", bei dem man gar an Queensryche erinnert. Am Ende gibt's mit "Betrayal" noch einen grandiosen, sechsminütigen Schlusspunkt, der ein großartiges Album gebührend beschließt. Leider gibt die Homepage noch keine Hörproben frei - deshalb glaubt mir einfach mal. Die ganze Atmosphäre der Scheibe ist sehr mysteriös und dunkel - ein Hördurchgang unterm Kopfhörer mit "Moment of Weakness" oder "Vow of Silence" öffnet einem das kleine (Underground)-Herz dann noch ein bisschen weiter. Die ehemaligen Templar sind also mit aller Kraft zurück und warten nur darauf, euch mit "Season of Reign" zu begeistern. Bei mir ist es schon geschehen! Support the Underground!! Kontakt: www.orderofnine.com (c)2005, Michael Kohsiek / SACRED METAL ---------- Order of Nine - Season of Reign 2005 - Nightmare Records http://www.orderofnine.com/ Reviewed by: George Tracks: Learn the Way Some Sort of God Bloodline The End Moment of Weakness Vow of Silence Bull Run A Matter of Pride Somnia Requiem Betrayal Nameless Opinion: I think Lance King and I must have very similar tastes in music, because he is 3-for-3 in sending me music that is totally my style. I like what he is doing over there at Nightmare Records, because I just don't hear this kind of metal anywhere else. Right away I'm digging the guitars on this disc. They are fat and meaty and in your face. The tone is nice too. The singer totallllly reminds me of someone, but who it is completely eludes me at the moment. He sounds different from song to song, so it is hard for me to nail down. I like that this disc isn't overproduced. So much metal today has this wall of sound, that while crushing, is kind of boring and makes it difficult to discern the different notes and chords. In that sense it has almost an 80's production style. But this doesn't sound dated. No, in fact it sounds quite rockin'. I've got it! When he goes up higher this singer sounds like Messiah Marcolin in old Candlemass! He sounds nothing like him when singing lower though. Ok, look, I can't think of any good reason for you not to buy this disc and support this band. If I could, I'd tell you, but I can't. It's good. I like it. REVIEW POINTS / THUMBS UP! MAGAZINE - HEAVY METAL REVIEWS ----------- Order of Nine-Season of Reign CD Nightmare Records Ok, before I say anything at all, seeing these guys live is incredible and I recommend that if you have the chance to see them, take it. This four piece progressive power metal band from Pittsburgh, PA hails to me as one of the best local bands around. Order of Nine has the momentum of Overkill, an early Nevermore feeling, and a pinch of ManOWar's playing style. The thing I truly like about these guys, is that they did away with the wall of noise in the back round, which works for a lot of bands, but Order of Nine tends to stick to wailing guitars and monster riffage. The vocals are also outstanding, with a diverse difference between high pitch singing and rough growls. Quite a good cd, an outstanding performance, and a group of good guys. Next time the drinks will be on me. rating: 5/5 home: www.orderofnine.com TS / DAREDEVIL REVIEWS