The choice of an opening track is always, always a statement of intent. Once you’ve got past atmospheric or brief instrumental guff that some bands put out there, the first proper track that you get is the benchmark and standard bearer for the rest of the album. Back in the day, when people used to listen to little listening pods in HMV on headphones to try before they bought, it was the “yes / no” switch for a lot of people if they weren’t familiar with a bands work.
Thus it is here, as “Reign of Steel” sets the stage perfectly for what is a very impressive and addictive album. With a memorable and eminently hummable melody line, it’s a slab of ultra-chunky epic doom that will make you want to grab your nearest chain mail hauberk and leap astride a war horse. I was always a massive fan of legendary British doom band Solstice, though my favourite parts of their music were the sprawling but muscular tracks, rather than some of their more introspective moments. Essentially, what I get from Thronehammer are the bastard child of Solstice, Candlemass and Grand Magus. If that isn’t wetting your whistle, report immediately to your nearest urgent care centre for prompt medical attention.
Luckily, it continues as a record to provide quality. “Kingslayer” sounds like it should be on the soundtrack to a modern swords and sorcery film, with some absolutely amazing vocal lines courtesy of Kat Gillham, who has a deep but soulful clean voice that fits the gravity of the music perfectly. Stuart West and Tim Hammersmith bring not only infectious and monolithic riffing (there is a supermarket’s worth of great riffs on here, folks), but also some tasty and intricate licks here and there. The rhythm section of Markus Strohlein (drums) and Uwe Void (bass and great-name owner) are just beastly in their heaviness. The opening strains of “Echoes of Forgotten Battles” bring to mind the leaden majesty of slower Bolt Thrower in their immensity, due to the glowering low-end work of those two gentlemen.
“Shieldbreaker” brings an almost folk-like quality to the ears, with an opening axe ear worm that’s not unlike Thin Lizzy’s Emerald on industrial level painkillers. “Triumphant Emperor” comes on like a collision of modern Tom G.Warrior smashing headlong into Paradise Lost. “Halcyon Days of Yore” smells like damp denim waistcoats and Saxon T-shirts strained across bulging bellies, with a fond and smile-raising nod to NWOBHM.
Last time round, when I reviewed 2021’s “Incantation Rites” full-lengther, I gave them an 8.5. I really think that on “Kingslayer” they’ve gone up a gear, in terms of song-writing, production and performance. Exceptional.
(9/10 Chris Davison)
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