ALBUM REVIEW: Tyrann – Djävulens Musik

Swedish traditional Heavy Metallers TYRANN are back to follow their debut EP with a full length album. Out on May 28th via Electric Assault Records, Knight Of Diamonds Records and Inti Records.

Soaring guitar melodies and pummelled drums pound in the record before catchy grooves and emboldened vocals drive forth a ripping assault of pure old school steel. The use of both Swedish and English works gloriously to give the songs a bit more uniqueness but then a memorable chorus in a more common language. The lead guitar work really stands out from track one with a blend of shredding and soulful melodies, while the riffs retain a simple yet effective and evocative flow alongside powerful drums. The mix and hooks lend themselves to the late 70s with a primal urgency in each chorus that will certainly often draw people back to the record, especially in “Brann Med Mig” which is one of the most anthemic songs I have heard in quite some time. Rhythmically, the music often follows a bass-drive chug that crawls alongside the Swedish verses that then drop into striking chords and superbly enjoyable English passages, this seems to be a rather consistent pattern through the album. “Don’t Make Fashion Of Our Heavy Metal Passion” is a battle-cry that many folks will stand behind, giving the band that sort of larger than life appeal that works beautifully with traditional Heavy Metal.

There is something that feels very genuine about the gruff, sometimes off-key vocals that are just belted out atop the thunder of power chords and punchy drums that always makes hairs stand on end for me. Sure it can be very primitive and yet that is part of the experience, this is old Heavy Metal made in 2021, in a way that nails the nuances and feels truly legitimate. From the melancholy howl of “Satanisk Majestraet” back into the venomous “Undergaang”, Tyrann have a fiesty dynamic that is not just charming but absolutely contagious. Unsurprisingly this trio of Swedes have plenty of Heavy Metal experience between them, serving time in Enforcer and Tribulation among quite a few others. The balance between catchy, memorable music and a driven and powerful performance is delivered triumphantly. This band can do more than just make a cool song, they sell it with a stampede of killer solos, varied drumming, tight riffs, grooving bass and soaring vocals, all wrapped together with a mix that has clearly been worked on to fit the band like a glove. I cannot say this is the most original record in the world and the band clearly do not want that, they want to invoke the spirits of Heavy Metal’s past and do so in a beautiful way.

If you seek a simple fist-pounding blast of Heavy Metal that lasts just under half an hour and will have you chanting along, banging your head and being transported back to the glory days, then look no further. This album is incredibly fun, but not in a lame way, this is real Heavy Metal for the true hordes seeking old school nostalgia that has plenty of character in its own right.