It's been a long time coming but Irish true metal band
Steel Tormentor have finally issued forth the follow up to their 2004 debut Unleashed. There have been various set backs and delays in the record's genesis but the band have held fast to their resolve and commitment to the music and made their comeback with the brazenly titled
"Return Of A King".
The title gives insight into the themes of the album; it's a tidal wave of no-nonsense traditional metal riffing and fantasy-based lyrics that scream defiance in the face of adversity. The band's frontman James Kelly has every right to been in such a exultant frame of mind as having helmed the band since its inception way back in 1996, he can be proud that his bands second release is a triumphant one.
I think it would be fair to say that the works of a certain Mr Steven Harris and company have informed this groups work as right from the opening instrumental
"The Ghosts Of Avalon", there is a strong Maiden-esque vibe running through the material.
It's slightly unfortunate that first track proper
"Evil Coming" is the weakest track on offer here. It's not a bad song by any means, it's speedy and twisting main riff is certainly an impressive one but on first listen it flies by too quickly to grab a hold of. But never fear as after a few listens it will worm its way into your brain.
"Armageddon" is a solid slice of traditional metal riffing which shows the band have a strong grasp of power metal's extravagant dynamics but it's with the third track
"Warrior" that the album really starts to take flight. It slows down the pace just slightly and allows the band's instrumental flair to come into the fore. Not one second of this track's seven minutes is wasted as crunching riffs, twin harmonies and towering solo's fly out of the speakers at every given opportunity. The fervent chorus cry of
"Warrior, Warrior, Your time has come" could inspire even the weakest hearts into battle and is also featured in the particularly effective bass break moment.
The album never looks back from there on in as it strides over the battleground hacking and slashing its way to metal glory.
"Soul Stealer" is a taut, monster of a song which will have any self-respecting metal fan thrusting his first skyward in appreciation.
The albums production, while not perfectly polished, does work well within the context of the music. Chief knob-twiddler on this record Lasse Lammert (who is best known for producing Alestorm's debut "Captain Morgan's Revenge") has done a fine job of giving the band music room to breathe. Perhaps Paul Newell's bass could have done with being a bit louder in the more hectic sections, but this is a minor nitpick.
"Return Of A King" harks back to a very 80's sound but more by the way the songs are crafted rather than any sort of studio trickery. This is no meagre attempt at aping what bands have done in the past as
Steel Tormentor have put their own individual stamp on their chosen genre of metal. Nowhere is this better shown than in the albums closing track which shares its name with the album title.
In the recording of an album many bands struggle to find a song to end it with a definitive statement. Not so these Irishmen who have created a thirteen minute epic to bring a sense of grandeur to the records closing. It's one of those songs that seems to make its lengthy running time fly by in mere minutes such is the intensity of its finely honed performance.
Again the guitar work of Kelly and fellow six-stringer Norman Rafters displays amazing agility and technique in the instrumental sections (and there are plenty of those in this number) and drummer Kevin Ryder holds the shifting tempos of the song together with ease.
And that's your lot unfortunately, the album does contain a single edit of Warrior but I always tend to push the stop button at points like this as I feel that putting edits like this on the end of the album is a little redundant (especially in this case as the track in question is so strong it seems almost cruel to chop sections of it out).
"Return Of A King" is an excellent release that exudes a strong sense of passion and pride in its delivery. It's perhaps a tad short at with only six full songs but the fact that it leaves you wanting more shows you how well constructed these songs are.
And for those of you fearing another six year wait for a follow-up fear not. In an interview with RevelationZ earlier in the year James Kelly informed us that songs for the third record were already being demoed. I for one am looking forward to seeing where the band can take their music next.
Written by
Stuart Thursday, July 29, 2010
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