American Traditional Heavy Metallers BLAZON RITE are unleashing their debut album on May 28th via Gates Of Hell Records. Without further ado, let us venture into the promised lands of Metal majesty.
Melancholy guitars sway into life alongside pure 80s style synths, backed up by booming drum beats to hit with a might hammer strike as tension builds gorgeously. Powerful vocals join the instrumental battery to introduce the full band as a brooding yet energetic beast with some magnificent interweaving between the guitars and vocals as leads and rhythms trade off in true NWOBHM style. Galloping forth, the marvellously potent battle-ready soundscapes speed into a frenzy of intense drum work and Speed Metal riffs that are utterly fantastic with the melodious vocal work and soaring solos that suitably draw on the old school energies that the band clearly idolise. Doomy moments bring back that brooding tension while never dissipating the ferocity, with a cloven style ebbing and flowing this feels mature and like the culmination of a long and hard effort in bringing everything together. Certain moments feel more like Manilla Road and Cirith Ungol, then we get the anthemic Angel Witch sections and some Saint Vitus and Pentagram-like Doom Metal before being dropped into a speeding inferno of blistering tempos. One thing is for certain, this is some killer Heavy Metal that does not lack vision nor variety.
The hammer strikes the anvil with precision each and every time as the songs develop into a monolith of pure Heavy Metal steel without the feeling of being derivative or boring. Each track has so many amazing elements that weave together beautifully into a tapestry of mighty and memorable music that is richly diverse yet in an unpretentious manner that hits hard and from the heart. The Iron Maiden-esque gallops should always be welcome to any headbanger, especially when delicately placed amidst such damned catchy choruses to majestically carry us across the mystical soundscapes and into the alchemical harnessing of classic Heavy Metal in this refreshing and exciting vessel. With thrashy touches akin to Nasty Savage we really do get a large pallet of classic bands coming through in the sound of Blazon Rite, however I must stress that this is not just simple worship and there is tons of originality and personality on this album from the piercing shreds to the unique melodies instrumentally and vocally. Additionally it is an impressive feat to sound so ancient and traditional yet so emboldened and powerful in the digital age, so kudos to these guys for being one of those bands powering through and keeping true Metal alive.
A magical and potent slice of Heavy Metal that abides by tradition but is not suffocated by them. Pure Metal will always be something special when done correctly, which it is here. The feel is perfect and the songwriting lives up to this with an execution of masterful prowess. The flavour and unique moments are plentiful yet do not saturate the old school feeling. This is definitely an album all headbangers will be able to blast and be carried away into mystical realms by the ensemble of wailing guitars, pounding drums and superbly clear vocals. Totally excellent. -8.5/10
Discover more from NATTSKOG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.