The eagle has landed, or should we say the Falcon? This is the third "restart" for power metallers
Falconer. Their beginnings were humble. 2001's debut self titled outing was a pleasurable folksy twist to the power metal formula. It was quickly followed up with "Chapters From A Vale Forlorn" and "Scepters of Deception". Vocalist Mathias Blad departed from the band before "Deception" due to his inability to tour.
Falconer ditched alot of the medieval trappings that helped distinguish them from the other five zillion similar minded bands out there. To compete and evolve with the times, the overhauled sound focused on the Victorian era and kicked the heaviness factor up a few notches. The frontman replacement of Kristoffer Gobel was allowed to give his input into the music for his second turn which also dramatically warped the perception of the band. "Grime Vs. Grandeur" was a bold step away from what
Falconer fans expected and thus received a varied and mixed reception. Harsher, rougher and darker, this was not the
Falconer that fans clung to, but an evolved creation that slammed the heavy back into metal.
Its been about a year since then and
Falconer has swept in for a third incarnation. Kristoffer is gone and Mathias is back and things are slowly moving back to normal in the
Falconer camp, judging by just the first song.
"Northwind" is uplifting, folksy, a tad cheesy and delivers all the elements that fans thought were lacking in the brave new world that was "Grime". That departure might as well never existed. Stefan Weinerhall's song writing is distinctively metal but effortlessly blends those folksy influences into the fold. Blad's clear midrange has improved greatly in his short hiatus too, giving greater emotional weight and vocal height to the music. The thrashy element has been carried over in spots from
"Grime" too, showing that they learned a little from that excursion.
"Fairytale Fanfare" is light and elusive, evoking dreamlike fantasies. Rapid pacing and robust guitarmanship pound
"Blinded" home with a slamming grind.
"Waltz With the Dead" is mid tempo and driving straight edged ahead. A darkened shroud wraps around
"Himmel Sa Trind" where their Scandinavian heritage is worn proudly on their sleeves. Fanciful flourish and epic power gives
"Northwinds", a bold, tumultuous kick. The sweeping pompous atmosphere from the title track is not quite matched again on the disc, which leaves it the standout piece.
"Home of the Knave" could be a political stab in a not-so deceptive disguise. For some reasons it seems off putting in contrast to the rest of the content.
"Spirit of the Hawk" is a high flying piece that shares much in common with
"Wings of Serenity" from the debut album. The feeling of deja vu is oft putting. Familiarity is a good thing, but here it seems they are copying themselves just a little too blatantly. It could be viewed as a sequel of sorts.
"Legends and Lore" leans heavily on the medieval influences and feels a bit like Blackmore's Night or
Skyclad under its wings.
"Long Gone By" is the soul pouring ballad, and they milk the angle for all its worth. Feathery and pretty, it sits well as a break from the obligatory double-drum speed king tracks.
With some of the dirt left under the talons from the "Grime" outing, and a healthy dose of medieval majestic mayhem, this combination of past and present brings them full circle. This back-to-the-roots approach has enabled
Falconer to crank out a fan pleasing disc that is very solid and makes for an enjoyable listen. Anyone that was turned off by their changes last go round should give them a second chance. Their music is fairly fresh with that frolicking folksy feel and intriguing enough to bring even more wary listeners into the fold. The attractive warmth in the production and roaring lion-like strength of the songs are quickly making them a true contender in the heavy metal game. For a few extra bucks you can snag yourself a copy of the limited edition if it can still be found. The added material is worth the price, since you score yourself not only the fancier packaging, but an additional four songs that beef up the album's running time. A solid purchase for power metal fans either way.
Written by
Alanna Monday, November 20, 2006
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