Known under the name of RÅTT KJØTT in1992-1993 and a few years later the group changed name to EXECUTION from 1993 until 1998. Thereafter the group continued to change name until 2001 when becoming finally GAIA EPICUS.

After the last two prior releases on Sound Riot Records frontman and founding member Thomas Chr.Hansen decided it was time to start his own label Gaia Records. He is not specifying any particular label but his quotes are there are too many corrupt labels in this industry and the debut release is GAIA EPICUS “Victory.”

In the realms of IRON MAIDEN, METALLICA and MEGADETH “ Victory” is smothered with images from start to finish throughout the CD of those bands, which is not a bad thing.

The music is crunching, hard-hitting and blood pumping that will invoke the harder metal fans. Thomas Chr.Hansen sharp guitar riffs are piercing and highly tantalizing to the ear and will have your fist raised in the loyal metal style.

The repetitive double kicking of the drums on just about every tune get’s to be a bit much, but the bass line by Hans Åge Holmen and guitar solos by Thomas Chr.Hansen masks it as to make the songs enjoyable.

I liked “Victory” but I feel there is not enough originality in the music to call this a great CD. Listen to “Revenge Is Sweet” and you tell me, how much influence does Dave Mustaine have on this track… too much. There are some songs that have originality but even the next track “In Memory” has a bit of “Fade to Black” from METALLICA.

I am sure fans will like “Victory” with the power driven guitar and beats, but it just misses the mark with its lack of originality.