FollowHerman Frank is one of the most easily recognizable German heavy metal 
guitarists around these days, and has been for a while. Probably best known for his work with the legendary rock band Accept, he also founded the band Victory, and was with Victory’s successor band Moon’Doc as well as playing a stint with Sinner.
The Hanover guitarist releases his second solo album “Right In The Guts” on the 22nd of June 2012, the follow up to his 2009 debut “Loyal To None”.
So how does the album sound? Anyone familiar with Herman’s work knows he is a fantastic shredder, and on this album Herman Frank lets loose. Throughout the album he displays furious shred work which shows everyone why he enjoys the status he does within the metal scene. However, Herman Frank manages to avoid a trap common to such guitarists – writing material that showcases their guitar abilities more than writing good songs. (Yes Yngwie Malmsteen, I’m thinking of you). Herman’s compositions, while allowing fantastic riffs with varying layers of heaviness, are all excellently well rounded songs, not just a chance for him to show off.
Herman’s vocalist on this album is Swedish singer Rick Altzi (At Vance, Thunderstone). Rick Altzi is a very powerful singer – the best way to describe his performance on this album is by imagining a cross between Ralf Scheepers of Primal Fear and Jorn Lande, with a slight undercurrent of Jeff Scott Soto – if you listen to a track called “Waiting” you’ll get what I mean by that. All in all, Rick Altzi’s vocals provide the perfect counterpart to Herman Franks’s fret work.
For me, the highlights on the album include “Vengeance”, “Roaring Thunder”, “Starlight”, “Waiting”, “Falling To Pieces”, with the fantastic “Black Star” being my personal favourite on this album.
Verdict: 10/10. This is perfect heavy metal. I personally cant think of a way this album could be any better. There simply isn’t a track that lets the album down on here, and it’s an album you’ll want to hear again and again. If you are a fan of Judas Priest, Accept, Jorn Lande or Primal Fear and you don’t own this album then there is something seriously, seriously wrong with you. Herman Frank and his band have crafted the perfect heavy metal album. Kudos.