Featuring former members of Hang The Bastard, Chapters was a different kind of beast that took Joe Nally and Angus Neyra in a more technical and progressive direction whilst still capturing the fury of their old band. Released in 2013, their debut and only release “The Imperial Skies” has received the remastering treatment. Joe and Co. now have a new band in Urne so it’s interesting to hear Chapters and their musical turn at that point in time. Enlisting the help of a few friends this is a highly technical piece of work that shows these musicians in a different light.

With the technically furious sound of Sylosis, “I Will Reign Forever” is a fast and frenetic opening blast. Taut drumming and dazzling fretboard pyrotechnics abound as brutal vocals get the heart rate going. A beautiful, acoustic, flamenco styled mid section appears accompanied by exquisite Joe Satriani-esque lead guitar giving the track a certain warmth and majesty. When the riffs come they deliver real punch and there’s plenty of thrashy moments thrown in with machine gun-like drum blasts. The Iron Maiden styled gallop on “March Of The Puritan” is another interesting twist while latter era Slayer comes to mind with the caustic riffage on “Arising”.

None of the album’s tracks stick to one style in particular and there’s definitely a proggy feel to the album as time and stylistic changes are injected into each song. Sian Sanderson appears on vocals on “The Ecliptic Circle” which takes on a more folk influenced sound. Soft and pretty at times it creates extremes in light and shade when surrounded by the unbridled aural onslaught of tracks like “The Imperial Skies”.

Album closer, “Chapters” (now known as “Divinity Begins”) is a clattering, metallic behemoth. Very much driven by the pace of the drumming which allows the highly technical thrashing guitar to almost float above the maelstrom, it’s a heady mix. Featuring Josh Middleton from Sylosis/Architects, the track has breaks of chugging, tight riffs give which give it heft while vocally it rages before some beautiful new-classical guitar breaks.

These are a set of songs that you want to pay close attention to. There’s some stunning musicianship on display here and a dynamism that keeps the album held high. Maybe some more from Chapters some day? Well worth a spin.

(8/10 Johnny Zed)

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https://chaptersmetal.bandcamp.com/album/the-imperial-skies-remastered