Formed in 1999 and hailing from Sweden, Grand Magus have always bubbled away in the Metal underground, a band who I feel have gained themselves a dedicated and strong fanbase but never really hit it super big. Their rise has been at least steady though and truthfully they do deserve credit. Their blend of Heavy/ Doom Metal is pretty unique after all, but how does their new album through Nuclear Blast stand up? Following on from 2019’s Wolf God let’s hope this monumental tenth full length delivers.
Skybound leaps in with a classic Heavy/ Doom Metal tone that screams Grand Magus, then the iconic vocals of JB Christoffersson slide in for an all round memorable albeit slightly generic banger. Giving off more of the same energy is The Wheel Of Pain, another song that fits the general bill of Grand Magus. It’s a sound that is never overly epic or especially big but it is really catchy and has a great rhythm about it. The title track passes by without much incident and truth be told it can be quite easy to drift off when listening to Grand Magus in general. The riffs are always solid, the vocals sound great and the whole package delivers but I sometimes feel that the more Doom element detracts from the band going full on old school Heavy Metal and vice versa which is what I think the songs often need and deserve. Winter Storms delivers yet more of the same pretty average but still a good brand of atypical Grand Magus.
I sound like I’m bashing this record I realise, but I want to address that the sound Grand Magus have is actually very unique. They are the sort of band where you instantly know who they are by their tone and that’s more than can be said for a lot of artists. Giving off some great Doom energy is The Black Lake, which actually might be one of the biggest highlights overall. I think this song is one which highlights the point actually, the band seem to straddle the middle ground between Heavy and Doom so much that they aren’t really one way or the other enough. I like The Black Lake so much for the simple fact that it feels like it leans into the Doom element a bit heavier. Again things pick up in Hour Of The Wolf which goes way more into Heavy Metal territory than anything before, another example of it working when the band just lean in. Don’t get me wrong there’s that ever present Doom tone but then that’s what makes the band what they are, overall another highlight with some definite Maiden energy. Grendel has some good energy about it too and actually represents a good instance of the Doom and Heavy Metal working together. Sadly To Heorot is a bit dull but the closing song The End Belongs To You gives off some pretty powerful vibes, maybe not the best off the album but a fitting ending nonetheless.
Would I go out of my way to listen to this time and time again, probably not. I mean for example I really like the Triumph And Power album but having neglected it for a few years and revisiting recently I can’t say I was overly blown away. Some bangers for sure but perhaps that’s how I see Grand Magus, each album is your typical mix of a handful of standouts but mostly filler. I don’t wish to discredit the band because I do like what they do and perhaps if you’re not all about bands heavily leaning into their genres then you might find more enjoyment. I guess I would describe Grand Magus and indeed Sunraven as quite a serious sounding album, and I generally like things to be over the top and bloody silly.
(7/10 George Caley)
Leave a Reply