ALBUM REVIEW: Armory – Mercurion

Swedish Speed Metal mob ARMORY just unleashed their 3rd album via Dying Victims Productions and Jawbreaker Records, let’s get into it.

Rhythmic battery drives us forth on a rampage of pure glory with wailing guitars and throat-shredding vocals, opening a maelstrom of pure metallic fury. The powerful sound is instantly a gripping one with the opening moments packed with an evil mysticism in the air while front-and-centre is bold and classic Heavy Metal hellfire. The solos are face melters, keeping the over-the-top 80s Metal spirit at the heart of every element, while the rhythmic breaks are full of groove and sleaze. Everything feels completely crazy yet precise and intentional, giving the start of the record a very purposeful march into oblivion. Gang vocals complement choruses while the more shrill vocals are like a hammer on the anvil of instrumental ferocity. Armory is a new band to me, and the start of this record instantly decided my fate as a fan.

Continuing in their vein of spirited Speed Metal rage, Armory have a very Swedish sense of melody which harkens all the way back to the likes of Heavy Load whose anthemic and unique approach to music is still felt in Heavy Metal today. Galloping astride steeds of noble tradition, there is nothing wrong with being derivative when paying tribute to the gods of steel is done so excellently. There is a definitively extreme touch to the music which can really be felt in the bombastic and relentless drum work, adding a semi-blackened touch to some of the darker moments. This meeting such anthemic vocals and melodious guitar work is something marvellous to behold and gets the blood flowing with molten iron. In fact, the build towards the centre of the album has a very organic growth that then explodes throughout the second half.

Across its 42 minute running time, Armory do plenty to keep their record exciting and diverse. Simple bass breaks or massive solos or sometimes an extra chorus (even some organs on “The Music Of The Spheres”) injects every song with passion and a desire to keep hitting hard while not growing tiresome. Despite being a very precise and musically skilled band, there are moments that are chaotic and almost feel intentionally sloppy but in a really cool and authentic way that lends to the old school aesthetics of the band. This is complemented beautifully by immense reminders of their abilities littered throughout. This furthers my point of the record being full of intent, the intention clearly being to unleash a new Heavy Metal classic with remorseless aggression abound. In this, Armory is very successful.

The entirety of this record will have you by the jugular, begging for more and banging your head in pure ecstasy. Armory delivers an arsenal of metallic weaponry, pick up your arms and prepare for slaughter!