There are always exceptions to just about every rule but most music fans agree there are distinct tropes associated with the American and European branches of power metal. In a way that seems to be poking fun at our respective reputations, American power metal bands like Iced Earth are generally more aggressive and thrash-influenced while their European counterparts are more concerned with classical inspiration.
With members located in Indiana and Pennsylvania, Lorenguard is one good exception as they offer a decidedly American take on the European style. While the band did originally release the Of Tales To Come EP in 2005, this is arguably their true debut as it is their first full-length studio album and also their first release to feature former Winterfell vocalist Robb Graves.
Upon The Burning Isles
As previously mentioned, Lorenguard plays a very European style that could be described as a cross between Rhapsody On Fire and Blind Guardian. The song structures are motivational and bombarding, the guitars and double bass drumming are at a constant, the vocals are a mix of higher-pitched leads with occasional mixes of choral and narrative elements, and there are plenty of keyboards and orchestrations to go around.
But with everything’s that going on, the band manages to step ahead of the average ensemble by ensuring balance amongst the instrumentation. The symphonic elements aren’t too overwhelming, the narration is pretty minimal and never derails any of the songs, and the guitars get plenty of chances to churn out some solid riffs. Hell, you can even hear the bass in certain sequences! When was the last time you even heard bass on a power metal album that wasn’t by Helloween?
And with every instrument getting its chance to shine, it’s not surprising to say that all the band members put on some great performances. It’s hard to say which ones give the best performances overall though the guitars and drums are the most noticeable as far as instrumentation is concerned.
The vocals are arguably the biggest standout in this project for this is a great deal of variety. While Graves is singing in a register that is much higher than his material with Winterfell, he still hangs on to a husky tone that is quick to remind one of Matt Barlow. Narrator/backing vocalist Raleigh Barrett and occasional contributor Amanda Wells don’t slouch either as they both add dimensions and some sweet duets to the atmosphere without sounding too tacked on.
The Prince And The Pariah
But before going into the songs themselves, one of the most important things to note is that this is also a concept album. In a way similar to Rhapsody of Fire and Iron Savior, this is the first part of a story arc that is meant to take place over the course of the band’s future discography. Hell, drummer Brady Sadler is even working on a novel series that is meant to go along with the music on here!
But with that sort of ambition in mind, it’s also a big relief to note that you don’t have to completely immerse yourself in the album’s storyline and theme in order to appreciate the music on here. No time wasted on filler-ish interludes or any of that bull-crap; just ten tracks of in your face power metal.
And with that said, most of the songs on here are quite energetic and intense. “Upon The Burning Isles” and “The Prince And The Pariah” are probably the fastest songs on here with the former having a particularly pounding chorus though “Dragonsbane” also goes between some great speeds and more epic aspirations. There’s also something to be said for tracks like the title track and “Wrath Divine” that disguise their less ripping tempos with upbeat executions.
There are also a small number of songs that manage to stand out due to their slower or more subdued moments. While “Greenstone” and “Secret Of The Spire” are still pretty upbeat, the guitars and vocals seem to pull back in a way that reminds one of something that would come from a Pyramaze album. Also worth noting is “Embrace,” an all-out ballad that never feels contrived and features Graves and Wells performing a skillful duet.
Black Sails and Phoenix Flames
Overall, this is probably one of the best power metal albums that I’ve heard in 2011 and arguably one of the most refreshing debuts to come out in a while. A few would argue that this album is nothing more than stereotypical power metal fodder that merely does a touched up version of the same old thing, but one could also argue that the instrumental balance and songwriting skill is enough to keep this from sounding too generic.
At any rate, I would highly recommend this album to the fans of all the bands name-dropped here and perhaps to the cynics who think that all European-styled power metal is excessively fluffy and castrated. Hopefully these guys can get on a solid label and develop a good following in the near future; there are clearly more tales to be told and a lot of potential that is ready for development.
Current Highlights:
- “Eve of Corruption”
- “Upon the Burning Isles”
- “Wrath Divine”
- “Dragonsbane”
- “Embrace”
Christopher Latta - I am the lead singer/bassist of Psychic Faith and the writer of many hard rock and heavy metal reviews
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