HammerFall - Avenge The Fallen (Nuclear Blast Records)
Hammerfall play heavy metal, classic heavy metal how it's meant to be played, influencing countless power metal acts, Hammerfall have always been a band who share more with Judas Priest, Manowar etc al. Forming in the 1990's they carried the flag for heavy metal through nu-metal, metalcore and everything else in the last 30 years, never compromising their vision, well guitarist and band founder Oscar Dronjak's vision to be honest.
He's the heavy metal heart of this band alongside vocalist Joacim Cans are the band leaders of the band and on their 13th studio album they are thankful for being able to compose on the road has made it a record that brings the muscle of their live show to the record, many of the basic bones of these songs written and recorded in their tour bus right after they came off stage.
It makes the tracks here as muscular and anthemic as ever recorded by co-guitarist Pontus Norgren and mixed by Fredrik Nordstrom, the unified nature of this band on display as they try to keep as much 'in-house' as they can. Some of the ideas here that stem back 20 years but they blend seamlessly as Hammerfall haven't changed drastically in over 30 years. From the clarion call that is the title track through the galloping The End Justifies, Frederick Larsson's bass and drummer David Wallin moving at full speed here with a slower anthemic Hail To The King.
Dronjak and Norgren shred and chug with the likes of Downing/Tipton and Smith/Murray while Hope Springs Eternal is the albums big ballad ripe for Joacim Cans well honed vocal, giving a herculean effort on this record. Avenge The Fallen continues to fly the banner of heavy metal loud and proud, another winner from Hammerfall. 8/10
Blues Pills - Birthday (Pollinate Music/Throwdown)
While recording their fourth studio album, American/Swedish retro rock group Blues Pills discovered that their singer Elin Larsson was pregnant. Her band mates gathered around her during this time and supported her through her journey towards motherhood. Their bond as a band and Larsson's pregnancy hugely influenced the recording of this album.
Written in just a few weeks they wanted to keep it loose and live, attempting to mirror their incendiary stage show by showing up and banging it out. While Blues Pills would have to go a long way to fully recreate their live show on record, here they favour a more experimental approach than before, perhaps even a more modern one.
The jangly blues rocking of the title track starts the album, Larsson's voice sneering and shouting about not giving a damn as the 60's garage rock fizzes behind her as we move into the throbbing Don't You Love It, Kristoffer Schander's bass getting the lead for this propulsive rocker, that phases into the gospel claps of Bad Choices, if this one doesn't get you dancing round the room there's something wrong with you.
The experiments pay off too, as the soulful croon of Top Of The Sky is stunning, like a drug features some country influences, André Kvarnström's drumming spacious on Like A Drum and proggy on Piggyback Ride. With a funky grooving bottom end and Elin's brilliant vocals you may miss the interesting guitar riffs and melodies from Zack Anderson often used as a counterpoint to the rhythm, while with track such as Somebody Better he's got that fluidity of Hendrix.
Birthday sees Blues Pills celebrating through a creative experience and huge personal change. It's a slow burning but infectious listen. 9/10
Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited (Nuclear Blast)
I've made no secret about my love for Blind Guardian, the German band hold a special place in my heart. So much so I went all the way up to Manchester to see them play earlier this year. They've been a special band for a long time, and prior to the release of their last album The God Machine, they were doing the rounds paying tribute to 30 years of their breakthrough album Somewhere Far Beyond.
Playing the album in full at Hellfest and Rock Hard Festival, they recorded the shows but rather that releasing it as just a new live record the band struck upon the idea of re-recording the record as the rehearsals took place during COVID so they were unsure if they'd be able to actually perform the shows.
With the initial recording put down live, they then started to use their experience in production and performing to keep the album close to the 1992 original but perhaps heighten or tweak things they were initially unhappy with. Keeping all of the bombast, choirs and orchestral elements from the original the major change comes from the depth of the guitars.
In 1992 they were a speed metal band discovering new textures, in 2022/2024 they're an established power/symphonic metal band who rely more of heaviness than speed. Essentially the record is how these songs are played now, by the current line up of Blind Guardian, the guitar playing much tighter and with fewer overdubs, making it rawer but also more precise.
With a sonic overhaul in place, meticulously crafted to keep it contemporary but never too far removed from the original, it never detracts from the quality of the album, classics such as Quest For Tanelorn, the title track and of course The Bards Song, which is still sung loud and proud at every Blind Guardian gig.
I could go into every single nuance of the production but better men than I can do that. Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited, is not essential, but it is a new way to hear one of power metal's defining moments. 9/10
McPharaoh - Burgertario (Self Released)
The continuing stories of the McPharaoh are brought to the wider audience again with the new 'EP' Burgertario. A 16 minute suite that features yet more film/TV samples (kudos on putting Beavis & Butthead alongside Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas) continuing where things left off on their monolithic debut full length.
It's another load of Marty Friedman worship with super shredding throughout that often encapsulates a number of genres. Impressive and bonkers the scaling of Burgertario, continues this farcical project, which although it was born from A.I artwork, the quality of the musicianship is very real. 7/10
Hammerfall play heavy metal, classic heavy metal how it's meant to be played, influencing countless power metal acts, Hammerfall have always been a band who share more with Judas Priest, Manowar etc al. Forming in the 1990's they carried the flag for heavy metal through nu-metal, metalcore and everything else in the last 30 years, never compromising their vision, well guitarist and band founder Oscar Dronjak's vision to be honest.
He's the heavy metal heart of this band alongside vocalist Joacim Cans are the band leaders of the band and on their 13th studio album they are thankful for being able to compose on the road has made it a record that brings the muscle of their live show to the record, many of the basic bones of these songs written and recorded in their tour bus right after they came off stage.
It makes the tracks here as muscular and anthemic as ever recorded by co-guitarist Pontus Norgren and mixed by Fredrik Nordstrom, the unified nature of this band on display as they try to keep as much 'in-house' as they can. Some of the ideas here that stem back 20 years but they blend seamlessly as Hammerfall haven't changed drastically in over 30 years. From the clarion call that is the title track through the galloping The End Justifies, Frederick Larsson's bass and drummer David Wallin moving at full speed here with a slower anthemic Hail To The King.
Dronjak and Norgren shred and chug with the likes of Downing/Tipton and Smith/Murray while Hope Springs Eternal is the albums big ballad ripe for Joacim Cans well honed vocal, giving a herculean effort on this record. Avenge The Fallen continues to fly the banner of heavy metal loud and proud, another winner from Hammerfall. 8/10
Blues Pills - Birthday (Pollinate Music/Throwdown)
While recording their fourth studio album, American/Swedish retro rock group Blues Pills discovered that their singer Elin Larsson was pregnant. Her band mates gathered around her during this time and supported her through her journey towards motherhood. Their bond as a band and Larsson's pregnancy hugely influenced the recording of this album.
Written in just a few weeks they wanted to keep it loose and live, attempting to mirror their incendiary stage show by showing up and banging it out. While Blues Pills would have to go a long way to fully recreate their live show on record, here they favour a more experimental approach than before, perhaps even a more modern one.
The jangly blues rocking of the title track starts the album, Larsson's voice sneering and shouting about not giving a damn as the 60's garage rock fizzes behind her as we move into the throbbing Don't You Love It, Kristoffer Schander's bass getting the lead for this propulsive rocker, that phases into the gospel claps of Bad Choices, if this one doesn't get you dancing round the room there's something wrong with you.
The experiments pay off too, as the soulful croon of Top Of The Sky is stunning, like a drug features some country influences, André Kvarnström's drumming spacious on Like A Drum and proggy on Piggyback Ride. With a funky grooving bottom end and Elin's brilliant vocals you may miss the interesting guitar riffs and melodies from Zack Anderson often used as a counterpoint to the rhythm, while with track such as Somebody Better he's got that fluidity of Hendrix.
Birthday sees Blues Pills celebrating through a creative experience and huge personal change. It's a slow burning but infectious listen. 9/10
Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited (Nuclear Blast)
I've made no secret about my love for Blind Guardian, the German band hold a special place in my heart. So much so I went all the way up to Manchester to see them play earlier this year. They've been a special band for a long time, and prior to the release of their last album The God Machine, they were doing the rounds paying tribute to 30 years of their breakthrough album Somewhere Far Beyond.
Playing the album in full at Hellfest and Rock Hard Festival, they recorded the shows but rather that releasing it as just a new live record the band struck upon the idea of re-recording the record as the rehearsals took place during COVID so they were unsure if they'd be able to actually perform the shows.
With the initial recording put down live, they then started to use their experience in production and performing to keep the album close to the 1992 original but perhaps heighten or tweak things they were initially unhappy with. Keeping all of the bombast, choirs and orchestral elements from the original the major change comes from the depth of the guitars.
In 1992 they were a speed metal band discovering new textures, in 2022/2024 they're an established power/symphonic metal band who rely more of heaviness than speed. Essentially the record is how these songs are played now, by the current line up of Blind Guardian, the guitar playing much tighter and with fewer overdubs, making it rawer but also more precise.
With a sonic overhaul in place, meticulously crafted to keep it contemporary but never too far removed from the original, it never detracts from the quality of the album, classics such as Quest For Tanelorn, the title track and of course The Bards Song, which is still sung loud and proud at every Blind Guardian gig.
I could go into every single nuance of the production but better men than I can do that. Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited, is not essential, but it is a new way to hear one of power metal's defining moments. 9/10
McPharaoh - Burgertario (Self Released)
The continuing stories of the McPharaoh are brought to the wider audience again with the new 'EP' Burgertario. A 16 minute suite that features yet more film/TV samples (kudos on putting Beavis & Butthead alongside Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas) continuing where things left off on their monolithic debut full length.
It's another load of Marty Friedman worship with super shredding throughout that often encapsulates a number of genres. Impressive and bonkers the scaling of Burgertario, continues this farcical project, which although it was born from A.I artwork, the quality of the musicianship is very real. 7/10
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