Stalking confidently and belligerently forward into their dark and powerful Metal realm, we find two former Iced Earth members Matt Barlow and Freddie Vidales, offering forth their own meaty, weighty take on Heavy Power Metal that proves welcomingly to not be for the faint-hearted. For anyone unfamiliar with the band’s previous two releases, don’t expect catchy harmonised choruses, symphonic keyboards or layered orchestration, “Emperors and Fools” continues to take the band into ever heavier and darker territory, showcasing Barlow’s powerful vocal register and Vidales’ dynamic guitar-work perfectly.

Ex-Nevermore skinsman Van Williams once more lends his powerful presence to the drums, displaying an integral heaviness that few drummers of his ilk possess. The production pushes these three as far forward as the mixing desk will allow, leaving no particular room for breath…other than when the band choose, in that uniquely, exquisite Barlow-esque way that Iced Earth fans grew to love (look no further than ‘Gone’ and especially the title track for fine examples!). But really, that’s where band’s similarity to Iced Earth ends, the guitar is darker, heavier, more virtuosic, the rhythms more…well…Nevermore to be honest, taking that vaguely lobbed Power Metal tag into their own heavy territory.

This album has a sound of two songwriters and performers doing what they always wanted to and revelling in every second of it. Every song exudes passion and drama, as heavy as you like and as powerful as you could want, the initial impact is huge. It’s only really on further listens that you start to hear the nuances, the added extras of higher twinned vocals, or secondary guitar lines weaving around their parent, and touches of keyboards raising the backing for a shredding guitar solo or sombre melody – there’s subtlety behind that crushing heaviness – of course there is! And as an added treat, just in case you needed one, how about an eleven and a half minute closer that features a certain Tim Ripper Owens as a guest, who alongside Matt Barlow, wrestle the vocal lines between them in a bit of Metal history, working perfectly together and in opposition to bring this excellent album to an epic conclusion. Ashes Of Ares have their own identity, their own sound, and their own vision – and a damn fine intoxicatingly heavy one it is too!

(8.5/10 Andy Barker)

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