THE JUDGEMENT - album 2015

About "THE JUDGEMENT"

Axel Julius in an interview with French "Rock Hard magazine" to the question:
"The cover artwork has a very Sci-Fi spirit, just like the band always did since the beginning, but this time it looks as if it has been mixed with more historical elements, like some sort of "back to the future" image, as if the main character in the front had travelled back in time. What does the cover artwork represent exactly and is it linked to a specific idea or concept behind the album title "The Judgement"? "

"Yes, basically THE JUDGEMENTs cover and album concept deals with SF again and means doomsday in this case. On that special day the SCANNER (our character/figure) returns back to earth to witness what's going on. That’s the situation revealed on the cover. Will evil triumph over good finally? Or vice versa? And what will the future bring to the human race?

Thus, in an expanded sense also it comes to religion. The songs deal with differing groups of our society ("Pirates", "The Legionary", "Warlord"). They all have their own religion and values throughout.

The alarming thing about it is that almost all people who rely on religion in the common sense are directly related to violence also, especially when it comes to conflicts. We can see the reflections of what have led people to war and the tools that are used to motivate people to destroy. Religious deception and an extremist justification have motivated people of all faiths to kill. History is littered with these examples as well as reflected in the topics of today's battles such as in Syria and Iraq and groups like Al-Kaida and IS or in the conflicts around Israel and the Near East.

So the question may arise: What religion actually contributes to peace in general? Or, isn’t religion the root of all evil perhaps?

The exciting question is: If there was no religion and man would not believe in a higher power would the human race be more able to live in peace than all the millennia with religion? If there was an absence of religion, would the world live in harmony? This is the question the title song "The Judgement" is dealing with.

The main idea in almost every song of the album is that something is going wrong on the planet in terms of our ethical value system. And that runs up through all religions and societies. But today, it is really getting worse and actually it is unworthy for a highly developed and technologized human race of the 3rd millennium. You can ever think about it, we thought. "

 

Read more about "THE JUDGEMENT"

Axel A.J. Julius in an interview with Peter Lindblad (Backstage Auctions INC.)

 

 

 

Facts

• ALBUM TITLE: THE JUDGEMENT
• LABEL: Massacre Records
• GENRE: Power/Speed Metal
• RUNNING TIME: 55:01
• RELEASE DATE: 23.01.2015

Tracklist

1. Intro
2. F.T.B.
3. Nevermore
4. Warlord
5. Eutopia
6. The Judgement
7. Battle Of Poseidon
8. Pirates
9. Known Better
10. The Race
11. The Legionary

Lyrics from "THE JUDGEMENT" can be found here

 

Studio

Recorded and mixed by Axel A.J. Julius at s1s studio - Gelsenkirchen, Germany;
Mastered by Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers, Helsinki, Finland

 

Info

• The 6th album by the German power speed metal band SCANNER from Gelsenkirchen, with vocalist Efthimios Ioannidis; music and lyrics all from Axel A.J. Julius (guitars and founder member of SCANNER).
• Cover artwork, design and illustrations by Anestis Goudas, (anestisgoudas.com) - Greece.
• SCANNER Photography by Ursula Deja - Duisburg, Germany.
• Additional Keyboards by Dirk Biesgen - Mülheim a. d. R., Germany.
• Background Vocals provided by Vocalist Partner - Wuppertal, Germany.
• All drums by Franz Eichberger.

 

 

 

Reviews "THE JUDGEMENT"

Check out the latest album reviews and ratings for SCANNERs new album release:

 

TWILIGHT MAGAZIN:

Rating 15/15

"...Das Urteil ist gesprochen: Mit "The Judgement" liefern SCANNER ein Comeback Album ab, welches Bands wie JUDAS PRIEST und PRIMAL FEAR aufgrund seiner rohen Kraft und melodischen Eingängigkeit auf die Plätze verweist....Mit Abstand das stärkste Album aus dem Hause SCANNER... "

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XXL-ROCK:

Rating 10/10

"THE JUDGEMENT (was für eine Dampfwalze!)...
Mit THE JUDGEMENT zeigen Scanner ... der Welt noch einmal wofür Edelstahl deutscher Prägung einmal stand: kraftvolle, vor Energie strotzende Speed-Granaten mit Ohrwurmrefrains und Riffgrossoffensiven."

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ROCKHARDPLACE:

Rating: MASTERPIECE

"...It's been 13 years since their last release, but believe me it's worth the wait, the German band with the Greek singer has put out a masterpiece of Metal... "

 

 

FAN RESORT:

Rating 8/10

"...Melodic Speed Metal wie er im Buche steht! ... Im Jahr 2015 muss man der Band einfach attestieren, dass sie Helloween und auch den heimlichen Nachfolger Gamma Ray nicht nur ein- und überholt, sondern weit hinter sich gelassen hat. ... "

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BLEEDING FOR METAL:

Rating 8.5/10

"...Als Musikjournalist gestatte ich mir hierbei, den Begriff Proto Power Metal zu prägen, um die Band mit Interpreten wie frühen HELLOWEEN, ATTACK, oder HEAVENWARD in einen Topf zu werfen. Schiere Wucht trifft auf ohrgängige Arrangements am quantitativen Instrumentalstandard und, um es kurz zu machen, das Anknüpfen an die Klassiker ist SCANNER hier voll und ganz gelungen. ...Da muss noch so einiges kommen, um "The Judgement" nicht am Jahresende in meinen Top 5 sämtlicher Polls stehen zu sehen. ... "

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DANGERDOG:

Rating 4.0/5.0

"...Overall, the album is a strong return for the band, a real showcase of traditional heavy speed metal... "

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METAL KAOZ:

Rating 8/10

"...it seems like a Metal god exists and now it’s time for a new CD by these excellent German band. And what an album THE JUDGEMENT is - that’s the least I can say.... SCANNER are back with a fabulous album and it’s great to already have THE JUDGEMENT as a first draft pick for the 2015 top list coming later this year. All five members are true metalheads. ... "

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STORMBRINGER:

Rating 4/5

"THE JUDGEMENT ist eindeutig das stärkste Album, das SCANNER in ihrer bewegten Geschichte vorlegten. Power/Speed-Fanatics werden mit der Scheibe ihre helle Freude haben und dabei wird bestimmt kein Auge trocken bleiben! "

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TIME-FOR-METAL:

Rating 9.1

"Hier haben Scanner einen ganz besonderen Zaubertrank gemischt. ...Sehr gut gelungen! ...Scanner treten das Gaspedal... ordentlich durch. ...ein richtig gutes und abwechslungsreiches Album..., bei dem der schnörkellose und eingängige Power Metal definitiv im Vordergrund steht. "

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MARKUS´ HEAVY MUSIC BLOG:

Rating 8/10

"...Scanner's THE JUDGEMENT became a real surprise... ...The sound of the album is powerful... ...singer Efthimios Ionnidis... ...is doing a great job. ...the high vocals of Ionnidis remind to old days in power metal. ...the riffs of bandleader Axel Julius are remarkable. ...Scanner brings back this typical German speed metal from the 80's. ...Pretty cool stuff. ...Scanner added an album to their discography that at least can live up to the first two records of the band. I personally think, that it's even their best one so far. Welcome back. "

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ZEPHYRS ODEM:

Rating 8.5/10

"THE JUDGEMENT ... direkter Nachfolger zu Killerscheiben (HYPERTRACE, TERMINAL EARTH) aus den Achtzigern ... knackig produziert ... wenn Judas Priest noch einmal ansatzweise in der Lage wären ein Album zu veröffentlichen mit Songs, die sich nur annähernd mit dem vollkommen genialen Titeltrack messen lassen können, wäre die Metalwelt um ein kleines bisschen besser... "

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METALUNDERGROUND:

Rating 4.5/5

"ein Flaggschiff der deutschen Metalszene ...wie der Phönix aus der Asche ... amtlicher Heavy/Power Metal Happen der einem durch Mark und Bein geht ... Gänsehautfaktor ... Hammertracks ... "

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LORDS OF METAL:

Rating 85/100

"... the album rocks ... the album is tiptop ... clear and contemporary production ... they blow away all doubts and questions with pure bulky up-tempo old-school heavy and speed metal in the German tradition ... the music immediately goes for the throat ... the only thing left to say is: Scanner is back! ... "

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METALJOURNAL:

"...The Judgement es un notable trabajo de metal alemán... "

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THE OTHER SIDE:

Rating 9.1/10

"Перфектно издание както за твърдите фенове, така и за изграждане на нови критерии за качествен Heavy Metal. "

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METAL HAMMER:

Rating 5/7

"...ein solides Comeback... "

 

 

NEW NOISE MAGAZINE:

Rating 3/5

"...Scanner reformed with several new members and original guitarist AJ Julius to release a great album. It's certainly a nod to classic metal days, but also stands on its own as a new release. Worth checking out if you're into face shredding solos, great riffs, and powerful vocals.... "

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MY GLOBAL MIND:

Rating 7/10

"... a very solid album that can easily be recommended to fans of the more raw and aggressive power metal, as well as fans of traditional heavy metal and 80’s speed metal... "

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BRAVEWORDS:

Rating 7.0

"...Guess this will keep them viable for a few more festival appearances... "

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CROSSfire Metal WEBZine:

Rating 8/10

"...und setzen damit durchaus ein Ausrufezeichen!... "

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FFM-ROCK:

Rating 9/10

"...Der Sound ist gewaltig, das Tempo verdammt straff angezogen und auch der Gesang von Efthimios Ioannidis passt perfekt zu der Band. ...Herrlich, wie Heavy Metal sein kann, Riffing, das einem sofort rein geht, coole Double Bass, starke Vocals, hymnischer Refrain... "

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GRAND ROCK ezine:

Rating 8.5

"...Scanner is a band that metal was greatly missing... No one can kill the metal, apart from the apathy of metalheads themselves... instead of awaiting for the "big names" lend some of your time, support and an ear, on awesome albums like this... you won’t regret it!... "

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KALLE-ROCK:

"...The Judgment... ...das hat es gewaltig in sich.... "

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LAGROSSE RADIO:

Rating 8/10

"...Du bon heavy of steel, avec SCANNER qui sort son premier album en 13 ans. Et ça envoie le bois!... "

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METAL FORCES MAGAZINE:

Rating 9/10

"...Scanner is the sort of leviathan that through its struggles has continually churned out high quality metal. Each track on this new platter unfolds through a series of pulverising shifts, with each instrument engaging with one another as if in some epic duel and then spinning off on its own immaculate journey... "

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METAL FOREVER & METAL MAN:

Rating 9/10

"...A THE JUDGEMENT, které lze hravě zařadit do té lepší poloviny diskografie Scanner, je toho skvělým důkazem. Fuck The Bastaaaaards!!! "

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METAL OBSERVER:

Rating 7/10

"...Overall The Judgement is a pretty good comeback for the Germans... "

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METAL HAMMER (IT):

Rating 7.5

"...Gli Scanner hanno saputo rimettersi in carreggiata, e per quanto ci abbiano messo ben tredici anni ora sono qua tra noi per ricordarci cos'era il Teutonic Heavy Metal negli eighties... "

 

 

MUNDO ROCK & HEAVY Webzine:

Rating 9/10

"...en THE JUDGEMENT están todos los elementos necesarios que el power speed metal requiere para mantenerse activo en los oídos del público... "

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Paradise of Melodic Rock:

Rating 8/10

"...THE JUDGEMENT is a solid effort all the way. A kinda of old-school metal with an updated sound and some really amazing guitars.... "

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QUEENS OF STEEL:

Rating 9/10

"...En definiva… ¡¡¡Así se hace un disco!!! "

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THE PIT:

Rating 8.5/10

"...ein bärenstarkes, riffgewaltiges Machwerk, welches gerade in den so wichtigen Refrains immer wieder mit hymnischen Charakter punkten kann und weichgespülten Käsemist außen vor lässt.... "

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True Metal Lives:

Rating 8.5

"...Definitely a straight up power scorcher and a fine addition to the current metal scene.... "

 

 

UNDERGROUND EMPIRE:

"...Alle Achtung! Mit dem neuen Dreher bekommt man als SCANNER-Fan ein wahres Leckerli serviert, eines mit dem wohl nicht einmal die Treuesten unter diesen jemals wieder gerechnet haben.... "

 

 

DANGERDOG:

Rating 4/5

"...the album is a strong return for the band, a real showcase of traditional heavy speed metal. Hopefully, we won't have to wait another 13 years for a new album... "

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MYREVELATIONS:

Rating 11/15

"...Ich muss abschließend sagen, dass ich von diesem Album nicht nur positiv überrascht bin, sondern es mich auch nachhaltig begeistert... "

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TOTENTANZ-MAGAZIN:

"...THE JUDGEMENT eine gelungene Mischung aus langsameren und speedigen Krachern, bis hin zu thrashigen Klängen... "

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halloWED:

Rating 5/7

"...The Judgement is an excellent comeback from a band that was discounted decades ago... "

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El Portal del METAL

Rating 4/5

"...En definitiva, álbum que roza por milésimas los cinco cuernos.... "

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rock overdose

Rating 78/100

"...Ο Axel Julius χτίζει γύρω του μια ικανότατη ομάδα και κυκλοφορεί έναν δίσκο που ηχητικά χαρακτηρίζεται ως . . . κλασικό Scanner!... "

 

 

NIGHTFALL IN METAL EARTH

Rating 3.5/5

"...un très beau retour sur le devant de la scène. Il nous délivre là un album qui vaut quand même son pesant de cacahuètes et qui nous rappelle par la même occasion et à notre bon souvenir quel groupe SCANNER a été et de quels albums il a accouché par le passé. C'est à saluer.... "

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666somosmarionetas666

Rating 8.5/10

"...un candidato al top 10 del año... "

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DIOSES DEL METAL

Rating 7.25

"...Los veteranos power speed alemanes Scanner regresan tras doce años de inactividad a la actualidad metalera, con un notable trabajo, “The Judgement” demostrando que el que tuvo, retuvo... "

 

 

Power of Metal.dk

Rating 91/100

"...This is a perfect release for the hard fans as well as for the setting a new criteria for qualitative heavy metal... "

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STEREOKILLER:

Rating 4/5

"...You have the nostalgic factor the audio quality brings to the table, a number of kick ass infectious songs, and a great deal of variety at work. ... "

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LiveReviewer Magazine

Rating 3.8/5

"...This album is a must have for speed metal fans... "

 

 

METAL CENTRAL

Rating 7/10

"...THE JUDGEMENT är ingen ny HYPERTRACE eller TERMINAL EARTH (1989) men den återupprättar bandets status och kommmer definitivt att snurras mer här hemma. ...EUTOPIA samt THE RACE...Två ytterst smaskiga låtar som torde kunna fånga in även den mest kräsne!... "

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ROCK GARAGE

Rating 8/10

"...Starke Scheibe...Wer auf Power/Speed/Heavy Metal steht sollte sich THE JUDGEMENT nicht entgehen lassen!... "

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ExtremeUndergroundMusicZine

Rating 8/10

"...In my opinion Scanner are a very great sounding mixture of power and speed metal and if you are a fan of those musical genres, you should check out this band... "

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musik an sich

Rating 14/20

"...knackiges Speed/Power Metal Album... "

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RockAddiction

Rating 7/10

"...Επιπλέον, η πρώτη εμφάνιση στο συγκρότημα του Ευθύμιου Ιωαννίδη, ως frontman, φαίνεται να ικανοποιεί τις προσδοκίες, εφόσον πετυχαίνει τις κατάλληλες εναλλαγές από πιο τα τραχιά στα μελωδικότερα φωνητικά.... "

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Musikreviews.de

Rating 11/15

"...mit THE JUDGEMENT gelingt SCANNER ein überraschend starkes Comeback-Album, das ... ordentlichen Punch, Dynamik und Energie aufweist. ... eine erfrischende Dosis puren Stahls.... "

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DISCTOPIA.DE

Rating 8/10

"...ein richtig starkes Album! SCANNER muss man 2015 wohl wieder auf dem Schirm haben.... "

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DISCTOPIA:

Rating 7/9

"...Meilenstein für deutschen Speed/Power Metal... "

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METALINSIDE

"... SCANNER haben es geschafft die frühen Melo-Speed Tage mit den leicht progressiveren 90er Alben zu verbinden und dabei relevant und frisch im Jahr 2015 anzukommen. ... "

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Distribution partners of Massacre Records

If you want to get our album in your country: These are distribution partners of Massacre Records. Maybe this will help to get you a rare physical copy of "The Judgement" if you do not want to order directly.

• Deutschland: SOULFOOD
• Österreich: SOULFOOD
• Schweiz: MUSIKVERTRIEB
• Benelux: SUBURBAN
• Bulgaria: WIZARD
• Canada: PLASTIC HEAD
• Czech Republic: MYSTIC
• Denmark: TARGET
• Finland: SUPERSOUNDS
• France: SOUNDWORKS/ SEASONS OF MIST
• Hungary: HAMMER WORLD
• Italy: AUDIOGLOBE
• Norway: INDIE DISTRIBUTION
• Poland: MYSTIC
• Portugal: COMPACT RECORDS
• Romania: ROCRIS DISC
• Slovak Republic: ROCK EXTREMUM
• Spain: AVISPA
• Sweden: SOUND POLLUTION
• Taiwan: MAGNUM MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
• Turkey: HAMMER MÜZIK
• United Kingdom: PLASTIC HEAD
• USA: Eone ENTERTAINMENT
• ROW: PLASTIC HEAD