Even though this Swedish Power Metal outfit released their debut album 20 years ago, it wasn’t that long ago I heard about them and the reviewer’s link I got for their brand new album was the first I ever heard from the band musically. That, of course, comes from the fact that they play Power Metal and Power Metal isn’t my choice of Hard Rock. This band hails from Ludvika, Sweden and their new album is their fifth. Five albums in 20 years doesn’t seem at lot but they did have a little hiatus from 2006 to 2014. Their last album The Fiction Maze came out six years ago so it seems like this band is in no hurry to release albums but quality always beats quantity, right? Much talk has been about just how much Persuader sounds like German Power Metal legends Blind Guardian, something that had the alarm bell ringing for me. Blind Guardian is far – very far – from being a favorite of mine. That being said, I always find those comparisons highly exaggerated when they show up so I decided to pay no mind to it when I took my first listen.
They open the record with the single “The Curse Unbound” which starts out with a dark and atmospheric intro that quickly bursts out into a Speed Metal frenzy, fast as Hell with an aggressive heaviness. It’s hard and here to beat you blind but it also contains a whole bunch of melodic vocal-melodies which blends screamy vocals with clean ones. While I do like to get run over by a musical bulldozer at times, this tune doesn’t resonate with me at all and faded as soon as the song has ended. “Scars” runs riot on high speed, heaviness and aggression. The verses holds back the speed some albeit with blasting drums and staccato riffing. The rest of the tune is robust and rowdy yet with a clear main-melody but with a slower and darker passage for the solo part. The chorus is pretty catchy in all its aggression but as a whole, the tune is ok, not more.
“Raise The Dead” starts out calmer with an ambient atmosphere but with the wink of an eye the tune the tune hits the ground slammin’ and kicking with an in-your-face aggression and chuggy riffing. The song slows down a bit when the pre-chorus comes in and the chorus do hold a hooky vocal-melody, Power Metal all the way. There’s even some growling in here for good measure. “Reign Of Darkness” is hard as Hell, highly energetic and with punchy drums that comes on like a fist in the gut. The song blasts away heavy and angry with some beefy, meaty guitars and edgy riffing. There are some melodic melodies involved but as a whole the tune keeps trying to rip us a new one without much structure or finesse. I find it quite boring.
“Hell’s Command” finally slows the tempo down at least a notch and it brings on a more steady and groove-laden drum-rhythm. That being said, we’re still talking Metal here and the band sends some chugging guitars, a ballsy metal-groove and some aggression our way. It is a heavy piece but the melodies at least holds some hooks which makes it a bit more memorable than the rest. It’s not great but easily the best tune so far. “Gateways” is heavy and slamming but a bit more nuanced with clear and striking melodies. The chorus brings on a nice hook which makes the tune linger a bit longer than the rest. It’s a punchy and heavy tune with more Power Metal grooves. Pretty good, this one.
Closing track “The Infernal Fires” starts out slow and a bit quite on a ballad note with some acoustic guitars and a fine-tuned melancholy – a little breather which is very much needed. When the band comes in the song heavies up, still on a slower note, yet with slamming and ballsy drums. The track’s verses are slower and more laid-back but gets heavy and rough pretty soon and everything sounds just the same again. The pre-chorus lower the tempo once more and goes for a more bombastic, even symphonic vibe with a chunk of keyboards to even things out. The keyboards parts actually reminds me of circus-music which is a contrast to the rest and the melodic vocal-melody really catches on with some memorable arrangements. Then a slow and down-to-earth acoustic guitar + vocals passage comes in giving the song some dynamics before the band comes in and blasts away for king and country once more. It’s an epic, 7-minute progressive Power Metal stomper and while I figure this one’s a decent track, it doesn’t really move enough.
First of all, I’m not sure I’m the right guy to review a band like Persuader because frankly, I just don’t get this. This is not my kind of Metal at all. For all I know, this might just be great album that I just don’t get. I just don’t find anything on this album that stands out or makes me want to hear more. Almost everything’s hard, fast, aggressive and blasts away at full speed and most of the record just sounds the same to my ears – no real nuances and neither melodic or memorable enough. The Blind Guardian connection then? Well, I haven’t listened enough to that band to comment on that, musically but that Jens Carlsson is a vocal dead ringer for Hansi Kürsch isn’t even under debate – sometimes they sound so alike it’s scary. I’m sure these guys are really good at what they’re doing but all I can say is that it’s not for me. At all.
3/10
Tracklist:
1. The Curse Unbound
2. Scars
3. Raise The Dead
4. Reign Of Darkness
5. Hell’s Command
6. Gateways
7. The Infernal Fires
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