Of Human Bondage is a high-quality, high-decibel screamage scrimmage that not only does nothing to damage the band's past legacy, but enhances it.

The retooled lineup (with Ritchie Wilkison replacing axeman Bernd Aufermann) dabbles in grandiose progressive metal, such as on the opus "The Cultman," but for the most part the manic Germanic group simply proffers classy power metal with prominent tasteful keyboards often leading the attack.

Angel Dust circa 2002 is a perfect combination of the classic feel of Judas Priest's Sad Wings of Destiny with the aggression of the seminal group's Painkiller era, the best of both worlds for metalheads of all persuasions.