Anyone familiar with Hungarian Power Metal band Wisdom will be very interested to see the re-emergence of their founding guitarist Gábor Kovács (known in Grymheart as Gabriel Blacksmith), leading forth a new band blending the ferocity of Melodic Death Metal, the catchiness of Folk melodies, the epic qualities of Symphonic Metal and of course the raw energy of Power Metal. With Kovács/Blacksmith also handling vocal duties, the line-up on this impressive debut is completed by fellow guitarist Dargor Rivgahr, V’arhel on bass, with drummer Sorin Nalaar driving the songs forward as emphatically as possible.
It’s a double-kick fuelled Metal-fest right from the off. Comparisons could be made to early Ensiferum and Equilibrium, with smatterings of Kalmah and occasionally early Children of Bodom, but those fresh, memorable folk elements keep things interesting and spontaneous, with the catchy guitar lines evoking elements of Brymir, Sylvatica and even Grimner. Although harsh vocals take the lead, there’s occasional gang vocals that carry the vocal melodies when needed allowing the main vocals to remain in venom-spitting fury for most of the time. The guitars shred with speed and dexterity around some great variations in tempo throughout the album, with each song having the ability to pound the steel or take off in a galloping blur when needed, which keeps the listener even more interested.
Maybe over the years you could argue that plenty of bands have come and gone (or come and stayed in the main), playing similar Melodic Death/Folk/Power Metal styles to this, but that’s true of all Metal genres and it’s how much of your own personality you can bring to a new band that matters. And Grymheart have plenty of themselves on offer here. Perhaps a background in Power Metal helps, but the band’s ear for melody immediately puts them in a bracket that took many other bands years to realise. This album is a great example of how to play this style with maximum impact right from the start as well as how to also inject your own influence and take it in your own direction. This is indeed an impressive debut, overflowing with a striking balance of rage and melody, that will make fans of the genre take notice immediately.
(8/10 Andy Barker)
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