Worldview: Invincible | Heavy Metal Is Invincible
(2025 – Girder Records/Pakaderm Music Group)
When we talk about traditional Heavy Metal, there is a dichotomy between maintaining the legacy of Metal that the old bands of the eighties have left us, and on the other hand, the criticism that is often levelled at the lack of musical evolution and freshness that theoretically exists in bands that strive to maintain the true spirit of Heavy Metal.
In the middle of all this comes something like Worldview, which at first glance could be a simple gathering of renowned musicians from old bands from the ’80s and ’90s who get together to do something that smells of mold. The reality is that “Invincible” proves quite the opposite, and as I listen to this album over and over again, I regret not having had it in my hands before, as it would have had a privileged place in our year-end report on the outstanding albums of 2025.
We are not exaggerating; in “Invincible,” everything seems to be done on a grand scale, with many reasons to consider Worldview a project that not only respects the old vein of traditional Metal, intertwined with some touches of hard rock and progressive Metal, but also demonstrates that going against the grain is not necessarily a step backward.
Thus, Worldview seems to resolve the debate between the old and the new, proposing a line centered on old-school metal with an agile, modern sound that is at the same time powerful and grandiose. In “Invincible,” everything sounds almost perfect, and all the pieces fit together to form a truly interesting album.
The combo includes George Rene Ochoa (Deliverance, Recon, etc.) on guitars, Rey Parra (Sacred Warrior) on vocals, Terry Russell (Holy Soldier) on drums, Tedd Libby on bass and keyboards, plus Crystal Mancaruso (daugther of Glen Mancaruso, brilliant drummer of Vengeance Rising) on backing vocals and vocals. This lineup works very well, and the sum of its parts yields more than positive results.
Moving on to the album itself, we have to say that the opening track, “Beware The Wolves,” is in line with what Worldview proposes in “Invincible”; an intro precedes a strong and powerful burst of heavy metal. Riffs are at the forefront, accompanied by Rey Parra’s familiar firmness in the vocals and Crystal Mancaruso’s excellent backing vocals. Next, the title track maintains a semi-locked march and a kind of orchestration accompanying the heavy bases.
But it’s clear that Worldview knows how to deliver an entertaining and never boring album, which is why the melodic “Blindsided” shows versatility and gives the album a twist. And if you don’t believe me, wait until you hear “Mystery Babylon,” one of the best tracks on the album. Its complex structure and composition take us down the path of classic and melodic metal.
“Who’s To Say” is the kind of ballad that seems like a must on an album like this, but it stays true to the foundations and logic that Worldview maintains throughout the album. Next up is one of the gems: “Don’t Talk To Strangers” is not only a cover of Ronnie James Dio, but also confirmation of where the influence of both the band and the album itself comes from. An excellent rendition of a heavy metal classic, I would even go so far as to say one of the best covers I’ve ever heard.
An epic ballad is what you can hear in “Vision In My Mind,” which incidentally contains some excellent string arrangements and one of the most heartfelt guitar solos on the album. A mixture of melody and galloping rhythm is “Until We Meet Again,” another piece that borders on melodic metal with epic touches and even progressive overtones.
Following the drop in decibels in this part of the album, “Hauntingly Beautiful” continues in a much more progressive vein with a much calmer tempo and excellent vocals by Rey Parra, who once again demonstrates his great vocal range. Fortunately, “A.I. Revolution” seems to return to strong and forceful riffs, giving “Invincible” a more than worthy ending.
The album itself seems to have varied moments. Its versatility makes it an album in which we can find different moods, always framed by a strong foundation of powerful guitars and keyboard sounds that give Worldview’s final sound its distinctive character. In other words, the band always stays within the metal sound, but has enough variety so that no two songs are the same or similar, and all the parts come together to create a consistent album. This highlights not only the composition, but also the production in general, which is handled by Ochoa himself in collaboration with someone who knows a lot about this. We are referring to Dino Elefante, who has produced many great albums. This one is no exception.
The artwork, while not particularly eye-catching, generally fits with the band’s overall style. The cover leaves no room for doubt, and although it’s not the most original we’ve ever seen, we believe it represents warrior Heavy Metal as it should be. The illustrations inside are excellent and the quality is very good. In addition, inside the booklet, we find photographs of the band members, as well as the lyrics to the songs, which are interesting enough to warrant attention. In keeping with the music, the themes are varied and far removed from the typical clichés of Christian bands.
I should mention that in addition to this CD version, “Invincible” is also available on vinyl, which is a great opportunity to get a physical copy of this great album, something we always recommend.
Worldview made their move, and “Invincible” is a home run, without a doubt. What comforts us, and at the same time disorients us, is that a group of old warriors have to set things straight and show what Heavy Metal is all about. The result is there for all to see, or rather, hear. For us, it’s one of the best things about 2025, which, logically, extends into 2026…
To find out what Worldview is all about, here are two video clips of the songs “Invincible” and “Blindside” from this great album, and, as always, the band’s contact details…
https://worldviewmetalband.com
https://www.facebook.com/worldviewmetal
