Look at the cover. Look at the band’s name. Look at the title. And then takes a look at the members’ names. Tony Steel (guitars). Steel Zard (drums). Flo Dust (bass). Mat Heavy Jones (guitars). Ok, so the singer’s name is Emanuelsson, but apart from that, can things be more Manowar than that? I know I rave about me listening to to all new records with an open mind but some bands make this very hard for me. I mean, with this lot, I know without hearing a note what this is all about. Heavy Metal. If this band play anything else than Metal, I will eat my shorts. And no, I haven’t read the press-release before writing this introduction but I will get into that now, for educational purposes – I need to know about this lot because I have never heard of this band before.
The band hails from Grenoble, France and they released their debut E.P. Warlord back in 2014 and followed it up with their debut full-length album Return Of The Warlord two years later. After three years of gigging with bands such as Annihilator, Sister Sin, Nashville Pussy and Jaded Heart and writing new material, the band signed with Frontiers to release their second album. Citing bands like Accept, Saxon, Metallica, Grand Magus, Nevermore and Slayer as their biggest influences, I guess I was spot on about them being a Metal band, something I’m sure I wasn’t alone at. I was a bit surprised that Manowar didn’t show up as an influence, though. That being said, I ‘m not trying to ridicule the band at all – I’m all for a fat, kicking Metal album any day as long as it has something to show for itself and these guys just might has given us one here.
Opening with the album’s first single “Mystic Voices”, the band is firing on all cylinders right from go. With razor-sharp guitars, aggressive riffing and a thunderous rhythm, the song goes out all guns blazing and even brings on some Thrash elements for good measure. It’s in your face and furious but unfortunately it doesn’t leave a lasting impression and when the song is done, I’m all “what just happened here?”. The riff-happy ballistic title-track is next and on a fast-tracked note, it shows off the mentioned Saxon influences at lot with an added Judas Priest twist inserted. It’s heavy and hard yet with a chunky melody. Better than its predecessor, it comes off as a decent metal-belter.
Latest single “Steel Hammer” is, to cite Dee Snider, blasting fast and loud on a ballsy and heavy ground with a whole lot of thunder and punch. It’s ferociously hard but when the chorus shows up the song slows down and builds a groove, fat and beefy riffy and a more accessible vocal melody. The song holds a catchy yet ominous outlook but at the end of the day, the song only reaches ok, not more. “Blackheart” is slower but not slow. It’s ballsy, punchy and kicking rowdy. It holds a pumping bass, stone-hard drumming, an enormous riff and is strikingly in your face. Even though the song brings on some more speedy moments, rough and robust, it feels more nuanced than the rest of the songs so far. A good song actually.
“Savage” blasts away at full speed with aggression and attitude where the riffing comes extremely close to Speed Metal. The whole tune seems to go all in when it comes to aggression and speed which makes the melodies come in second hand so for me, this tune goes nowhere – in one ear, out the other. A bit darker, “Gloomy World” starts off on a more laid-back note, something that feels like a must at this point. After an eerie keyboard intro, the tune heavies up with an edgy punch, a ballsy rhythm and some beefy riffing. The atmospheric arrangements and clear melody-lines and the slower pace makes the tune a bit of a breather. It also hold a slow, dark and evil sounding passage with a glance towards Black Metal. A doomy and gloomy tune that, apart from the somewhat naff chorus, stands out as the best track so far. Pretty good one.
Manowar might not have been listed as an influence but they do show up when the main riff to “Malefice” comes along for the ride. The tune kicks off in a mid-pace, tough, heavy and very in-your-face. It’s a forceful powerhouse that blasts away with a hard punch and an aggressive outlook and while that’s all good and well, the song just won’t go anywhere. There are some more melodic, held-back moments in the song that I enjoy but for the most, the tune doesn’t speak to me at all. “Metal Nation” starts out slow and earthy with a guitar approach that reminds me a bit of Dimebag Darrel but too soon the tune breaks loose into another wild, fast and thrashy whirlwind of a song on a furious beat. To that we can also add super-fast riffing and some growly vocals but the slower and melody-ridden chorus contrasts in a good way which gives the tune dynamic vibe. I dig the chorus, the rest not so much.
“Pussy” is a real curveball on this album with its more nuanced arrangements and sleazy outlook where Hard Rock rather than pure Metal seems to be the template, based more on melodies than actual speed and aggression. That being said, traces of bands like Motörhead and Judas Priest can be found which marries fine with the American sleaze-rock flirtations. In my book, this is the album’s best track. But the title? Really? “Led By Judas” takes on some classic 80’s Metal riffing, not very original but catchy. As a whole, it’s a fast, hard, robust and angry Metal stomper that does its best to beat you up bad, very thrash-edgy. Not bad but I’m not overly thrilled either.
Closing track “Master Control” kicks off on a slower yet heavy note with some fat, meaty “Sad But True”-ish riffing but sooner than you can say Metallica, it burst out in a fast, crunchy and hard Thrash Metal style influenced direction and again, Metallica – the early years – comes to mind. The tune is kicking and biting and while it sure kicks up some major dust, the song passes me by completely unnoticed and afterwards I’m left with the feeling that nothing happened and I don’t remember squat when it’s done.
I don’t know, man. I don’t know if this effort just isn’t good enough or if it’s just me that don’t get it. What stands clear though is that this just isn’t for me. Sure, the band has a high-pitched, wide-ranged vocalist, very powerful but with a tendency to stay in the same pitch a bit too often and the rest of the guys are doubtless high skilled musicians who most likely loves their Metal hardcore. And the production is very much in-your-face with very few chances to catch your breath, which I guess is exactly how they want it. It’s the songs – the most important thing – that just don’t resonate with me. Nothing sticks or stands out with little to none variation and too often they’re so alike I have a hard time telling them apart. There’s also a lack of identity within the band’s sound. I dunno, maybe for fans that are all Metal and nothing but will want to give me a beating for this but this isn’t my kind of Metal at all.
3/10
Tracklist:
1. Mystic Voices
2. Fight Them All
3. Steel Hammer
4. Blackheart
5. Savage
6. Gloomy World
7. Malefice
8. Metal Nation
9. Pussy
10. Led By Judas
11. Master Control
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