This is the debut album release from London based Epic Heavy Metal band who started with the very solid foundation of ‘Sacrifice Doth Call’ EP. With lyrics of valour and fighting through time and extension to basic Greek mythology. With this introduction would come the usual suspects of influences, Manowar, Mercyful Fate, Bathory and Cirith Ungol etc. This is not a negative, but I need to set the scene straight away. Recorded in Southport’s Arch Recording Studio, which in itself is an old converted Church, which meant the dynamics of the band could be captured as one, not a collective of instruments, concluding in a mere four days.
‘Eternal Hammerer’ is a galloping romp into the style of many new bands, Century in particular form the Swedish scene and the FWoSHM/first wave as it’s known! Finger crippling solo runs deliver a vibrancy that is sometimes lacking in claimed “epic” bands. ‘Vanguard of the Emperor’ delivers in the form of classic US metal. With the vocal tones sounding very Scandinavian, it’s a rather enjoyable hybrid of classic styles that are augmented by some structures that you wouldn’t normally expect. Whilst initial openers relish in glory and near pure perfection, there are some challenges along the way. ‘Tolls of Perdition’ is doomier in places, picking up British influences, in places this arrangement takes a second listen and its quite complex and varied in time signatures and I certainly didn’t, get it the first time around. ‘Forgotten Gods’ hail and kill to the gods and loin cloth wearers of yesteryear, however, the production again picks up the sword and thrusts itself forward. Considering the recording time in the studio, the magic is real and pure, especially the perfection of emotion gained from the guitar solo. Then you pair with ‘Phaëthon Must Fall’, that I suppose would be their signature tune, it’s worthy of such a title, damn its really addictive!
‘Wielder of the Steel’ closes the album with pure perfection, yes Manowar gets a run for their money, its brash, epic, varied in its arrangement and over 9 minutes long. The jewel I find in this track is the drums, yes you know all about guitar gallops, but the drums here follow this pattern as horses running across the earth, I really like this touch, it may sound simple, but the atmosphere this creates is very rewarding.
‘Blasphemers’ may have some melodic riffs that pick up the pace, you could consider the frozen lands again; Mace N Chain spring to mind, for the elders of the scene, classics are many and probably too numerous to compare too. I would say enjoy this for whom the band are, this is a sterling release, don’t get hyped on references, influences. Epic inspired heavy metal isn’t usually this grand from the UK, but this band has a gold medal in superiority, class and power. Rejoice, join the battle, ignore the posers, and enjoy the initiation of this full album release.
(9/10 Paul Maddison)
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