RADIANT – Written By Life

April 12, 2022 Bryce Van Patten Album Reviews, Reviews 0
RADIANT - Written By Life
  • 8.2/10
    RADIANT - Written By Life - 8.2/10
8.2/10

Summary

Label: Massacre Records
Release Date: April 22, 2022

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No Filler – Just Killer

Herbie Langhans fans are in for a treat as the 2nd album from Radiant is here. Written By Life is the follow up to 2018’s self-titled debut album, and is a great collection of songs that tell stories of a personal nature from the band members experiences. Herbie Langhans (Firewind, Sonic Haven) brings his powerful voice to the mix with the twin guitar attack of Flo Gottsleben (ex-Seventh Avenue) and Carsten Stepanowicz (Black Radar, Sonic Haven),  the Billy Sheehan-ish skills of bassist Markus Beck (ex-Bullet Train, ex-Seventh Avenue), and the pounding drums of Manni Spalka completing the dream team that is Radiant.

Straight From The Heart

Radiant – Written By Life is 11 tracks of powerful Melodic Metal that comes straight from the heart. The album tells stories about the band members’ musical milestones, shared memories, adventures and personal tragedies. Herbie Langhans states: “Most of the songs on the album were created together in the rehearsal room and thus, unite all of our different musical influences. The range of the songs are just incredible. We were very careful not to put anything on the album that we all didn’t completely approve of.”

The album is mixed by Herbie Langhans, so you know you are getting the artists complete vision of what the songs are meant to be. For this reviewer the standout tracks include “Live the Adventure” with it’s darker tones, and the album opener “Night Shift” with it’s sweet guitar harmonies and big vocal melodies that keep you smiling.

Final Notes

Written By Life is an excellent 2nd album, and Radiant fans will be thrilled with the new material. There are plenty of catchy melodies, cool guitar riffs and sweet guitar solos to keep you coming back for more. Herbie Langhans and company have a very solid Melodic Metal album that has more than enough  going for it to make it a worthy addition to your album collection.

Radiant band photo

Lineup

Herbie Langhans – Vocals, Additional Guitars & Keyboards
Flo Gottsleben – Guitars
Carsten Stepanowicz – Guitars
Markus Beck – Bass
Manni Spalka – Drums

Written by Life – Tracklist

01. Night Shift
02. Don’t Stop the Daydream
03. Real Passion Will Never Die
04. Live the Adventure
05. Stand that Fight
06. Because of You
07. Contagioned
08. Rock and Win
09. Dare to Fail
10. Twice a Week
11. Hang Around with Friends

Author

  • Bryce Van Patten

    Bryce is an audio engineer and a graphic designer here at Metal Express Radio. From the day he purchased his first album (Machine Head by Deep Purple), he has had a passion for heavy music, which has influenced his whole life. Bryce is from the great Pacific Northwest in USA, and has played in metal bands like Babylon, Holy Terror, The Wild Dogs, Warhead and Egypt through the 80s. He had his first interview for the Portland, Oregon publication The Rock Rag with guitarist Paul Gilbert in his Racer X days. Then he was honored to get to have drinks, and talk for an hour with the legendary Dan McCafferty of Nazareth for his second interview. In 2013, he spent an amazing hour talking to Andi Deris of Helloween, which was the high point of his heavy metal journalism.   In the year 2001, he formed Man in Black Music Publishing. They released recordings by several local bands, and in the spirit of the old Metal Massacre compilations, he created a 2-album series called The Defenders of Metal. The albums featured classic styled Metal bands from all around the world, with bands from Australia to England, and from Argentina to Russia. Currently, he is the producer/creator/vocalist of the Metal band The Black Tuesdays.

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