Farvahar
2010
Let's see ewww, there's a big spooky skeleton guy on the cover and the mandatory semi-calligraphy type script logo. Seen all that before and even before my fingers grabbed the disc I knew it was going to be old school type metal. Then I plopped into the player and was absolutely steamrolled by this band. Classic style metal I expected, but top of the line 80's metal on this band's debut? Nope, didn't see that one coming. Plenty of bands today think they are picking up in the tracks of metal's founding fathers. Plenty of those bands are wrong because they just go through the motions and lack the passion, skill, aggression or a combination of all of those. Sweden's Gallow's End have managed to knock an albums worth of songs that recall the likes of Grim Reaper, Iron Maiden, Armored Saint, King Diamond and others. Yet this isn't just another copy, clone, retread band. No, this is top of the line grab you by the throat, full on assault style of metal. Yet it's fresh enough to not just be stuck totally in the past as evidenced by fantastic tracks like "The Curse" and "Not your own". The production is excellent and the guitars are particularly impressive. The vocals are powerful and consistent even during the different paces that the band follows. Not a weak song in the bunch either and Gallow's Eve show a fair amount of diversity by easily handling heavy pounding songs, mid-range grinders and slower tracks with the same amount of skill and energy. Fans of real classic metal are in for a treat with this one.
I'll have to check these guys out. I love a band that can fully pull off the 'old' sound of metal. The 70's and 80's is where metal lived to it's fullest. Glad to hear some people are still pulling it off
ReplyDeleteKlepto-I am going to be giving away two autographed copies of this disc as soon they arrive in my mailbox. So stay tuned. Probably some time next week that I'll start the contest.
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