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Battle Metal is a term which I feel is
used a bit too frequently to label anything from Power Metal bands to
Viking/Folk Metal bands, but for this album the tag fits quite well.
"Victory", the latest album of Norwegian’s Gaia Epicus, is truly an album
capable of accompanying one on to the war field, while at the same time
getting heads banging and of course, fists punching the air.
The rather upbeat and catchy "New Life"
opens the album, before the absolutely fantastic "Iron Curtain" raises the
temperature to a rather metal level. The later possesses one of most
killer breakdowns I've ever heard, the final 3 minutes of the song include
an inhumanly fast riff, some galloping guitars and a healthy amount of
guitar solos, perfect. "The Sign" and "Revenge is Sweet" show a
different, heavier side to Gaia Epicus, and "Revenge.." has an absolutely
fantastic route one riff that any metal band would be proud of writing,
power metal or otherwise.
Acoustic instrumental "The Memory"
provides a mid album chill out moment, a beautiful mix of acoustic guitar
and a delicate solo, with an almost poignant feel, a prelude to battle,
possibly. Unfortunately the following track is a much less memorable
affair, "Awaken the Monster" is a rather dull, dragging song, not hugely
dissimilar to Manowar's more recent offerings, and despite some nice
guitar work (something which flows freely throughout this album), this
song is best forgotten.
The band return to a more power metal sound for
the Star Wars influenced "Rise of the Empire", a damn catchy
tune with a strong air guitaring potential. "When Darkness Falls" is the
second instrumental of the CD, and is a rather standard affair compared to
it's instrumental predecessor, although any memory of standard songs is
blown away completely as three songs of epic(us) proportion bring the
album to a close. "Fortress of Solitude" is fantastic, a full on Power
Metal song that will have you standing on your bed headbanging while
waving a plastic sword as soon as the intro kicks in, or at least I'd
assume that's how other people will react to it...
Fans of classic Heavy
Metal will be more than content with "Through the Fire", a 7 minute
stunner which takes obvious influence from the Iron Maiden's and of the
world, and even bears some similarities to early Metallica. As far as
musicianship goes "Through the Fire" is the best example of Gaia Epicus's
talent on this album, an epic blend of harmonizing guitars, shredding
solos, a chugging riff, and vocalist Thomas Hanson's wail of "Through the
Fiiirrreee" make this a track to remember. The album ends with the title
track, an ode to all the brothers of metal and a fitting way to end an
album which is for battle metal - a Victory.
The only downside to this latest opus of
the Norwegians is the unfortunate lack of atmosphere, a keyboard would go
a long way towards changing these tracks into epic slabs of Heavy Metal,
but as they are they're suitable for any fan of true metal to sing along
to, with battle-axe held high "Brothers of Metal Unite!".
* Review by Shadow Warrior. |
