┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │■ ■│ │ .-/ .-. │ │ _.-~ / ___ | ~-._ │ │ \:/ -~| / __/| .\:/ │ │ / || (:/:| \ │ │ / /\/| |:\___\| |\ \ │ │ / /:::|.::/:::/:.|:\ \ │ │ / /:::/ \\/:::/::/:::\ \ │ │ / .::\ \-~~~~-/\/:.. \ │ │ /..:::::\ /:::::..\ │ │ /::::::::- -::::::::\ │ │ \:::::-~ ~-:::::/ │ │ \:-~ ~-:/ │ │ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ P R E S E N T S │ │ │ │ │ │ + Grand Magus - Sword Songs + │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Information ║ │ │╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Rls Date..2020-01-01 Encoder......LAME 64bits version ║ │ │║ Genre.....Heavy Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │ │║ Year......2016 Khz/Bitrate..44.1 / VBR kbps ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Ripper....Anthem Songs........11 ║ │ │║ Source....CD Covers.......Yes ║ │ │║ Url..http://www.grandmagus.com ║ │ │║ ║ │ │╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Notes ║ │ │╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Artist : Grand Magus ║ │ │║ Album : Sword Songs ║ │ │║ Label : Ward Records ║ │ │║ Cat.No : GQCS-90147 ║ │ │╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Description : ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ I canÆt help feeling with Grand Magus that they could be so ║ │ │║ much more if they only had a finishing touch. When these ║ │ │║ guys really get a bee under their bonnets and throw ║ │ │║ everything at a few songs, those cuts usually stand out on ║ │ │║ their respective albums, as æStorm KingÆ did on the The ║ │ │║ Hunt or like æAt Midnight TheyÆll Get WiseÆ on Hammer of ║ │ │║ the North. As a three-piece, the bandÆs simplicity is ║ │ │║ understandable, though the lack of energy and creativity ║ │ │║ that can be seen at times is what stands between ║ │ │║ recognition and greatness. As such, the SwedesÆ occasional ║ │ │║ brilliance only serves to highlight their usual ║ │ │║ dependability and average quality albums, disappointing me ║ │ │║ more often than they meet my expectations. Sword Songs ║ │ │║ continues on the trioÆs dogged journey in the same vein as ║ │ │║ before, melding classic heavy metal to a doomy guitar sound ║ │ │║ and soaking it all in a big barrel of warriorÆs mead to ║ │ │║ produce that distinctive Viking flavour. Stripped back to a ║ │ │║ mere 35 minutes, you would hope that this album is filled ║ │ │║ to the brim with great moments and a vigorous approach, ║ │ │║ which is certainly what the opening pair of songs provides. ║ │ │║ æFreyaÆs ChoiceÆ kicks things off in unexpected fashion, ║ │ │║ with a chugging riff reminiscent of metalcore that ignites ║ │ │║ with a low growl, before a clattering drum fill sets up the ║ │ │║ more traditional Grand Magus riffing style. ItÆs nice to ║ │ │║ see the band trying something new, which also marks the ║ │ │║ heavier, grinding riffs in the chorus of æMaster of the ║ │ │║ LandÆ, while æVarangianÆ contributes to the same cause with ║ │ │║ a happily winding riff from the folk metal textbook, giving ║ │ │║ the song an easy momentum and buoyant rush of energy ║ │ │║ following the chorus. All of these extra additions gives ║ │ │║ Sword Songs something of a distinct character among Grand ║ │ │║ MagusÆs work, especially since it binds itself rather ║ │ │║ tighter to the Viking metal/battle metal movement than ever ║ │ │║ before, in the lyrical content as well as the belligerent ║ │ │║ riffing. However, this heralds the first time that Grand ║ │ │║ Magus could conceivably be thought of as part of a scene, ║ │ │║ their earlier work rarely settling comfortably among their ║ │ │║ neighbours. That means that at times it feels as if the ║ │ │║ band were too content to make simple hooks and capture the ║ │ │║ listener by the songsÆ familiarity instead of attempting ║ │ │║ something more distinctive, as achieved by the raw power of ║ │ │║ æMaster of the LandÆ and the dramatic opener. The laidback ║ │ │║ feeling of some of the verses is totally at odds with the ║ │ │║ nature of the powerful riffs and the equally powerful voice ║ │ │║ of JB Cristoffersson when he makes full use of his pipes. ║ │ │║ æLast One to FallÆ is a prime culprit, simply pushing power ║ │ │║ chords into spaces where something more purposeful is ║ │ │║ needed û and indeed is expected if the pumping drum beat is ║ │ │║ anything to go by. The same thing happens to some extent in ║ │ │║ æEvery Day ThereÆs a Battle to FightÆ, though, as the ║ │ │║ closer, the relaxed approach is more understandable and ║ │ │║ works to produce nostalgic atmosphere at the opening of the ║ │ │║ song. Upon reaching the chorus, itÆs a different story ║ │ │║ however: lines like ôGot to get up, be strong and fight ║ │ │║ them all / Never let the fear stand in your wayö might ║ │ │║ sound better if sung with conviction, something that just ║ │ │║ isnÆt present in either the vocals or the music, turning a ║ │ │║ potentially inspiring message into an ambiguous ending. On ║ │ │║ the flip side, that simplicity also makes Sword Songs easy ║ │ │║ to get into. Even during the first listen, youÆll find it ║ │ │║ difficult not to join in with the ôViking metal!ö refrain ║ │ │║ in æForged in Iron û Crowned in SteelÆ, while after a ║ │ │║ couple more listens your house will resound with the tones ║ │ │║ of more exuberant numbers like æBorn For Battle (Black Dog ║ │ │║ Of BrocΘliande)Æ as you roar them out from every room. None ║ │ │║ of the songs feel like total letdowns, similar to the case ║ │ │║ of the similarly balanced The Hunt, even æLast One to FallÆ ║ │ │║ pulling itself into shape with an immense doomy bridge and ║ │ │║ passionate chorus. The inclusion of æHugrÆ (another in the ║ │ │║ bandÆs tradition of awkwardly monikered instrumentals) ║ │ │║ seems unnecessary, though for anyone still hungry after ║ │ │║ eight proper songs, thereÆs a bonus track and an ║ │ │║ interesting cover of Deep PurpleÆs æStormbringerÆ on the ║ │ │║ digipack, both of which are worth a couple of spins. ║ │ │║ Despite one or two underwhelming moments, Sword Songs wins ║ │ │║ out due to a good balance of tasty marching riffs, classic ║ │ │║ lead guitar, and anthemic bravado, rounded out by decent ║ │ │║ performances on all instruments. Seeing the band broaden ║ │ │║ their range also bodes well for the future. The best songs ║ │ │║ here are probably æBorn for BattleÆ, æFrejaÆs ChoiceÆ, and ║ │ │║ æFrost and FireÆ, which are also those that keep their ║ │ │║ energy and focus from beginning to end. One can always hope ║ │ │║ for more from a band as experienced and with such pedigree ║ │ │║ as Grand Magus, but in the end these guys still give most ║ │ │║ of what you want, just without that extra special ║ │ │║ something. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Tracklist ║ │ │╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │ │ │ │ 1. Freja's Choice 3:59 │ │ 2. Varangian 3:41 │ │ 3. Forged In Iron - Crowned In Steel 5:38 │ │ 4. Born For Battle (Black Dog Of BrocΘliande) 3:41 │ │ 5. Master Of The Land 3:51 │ │ 6. Last One To Fall 4:00 │ │ 7. Frost And Fire 3:16 │ │ 8. Hugr (Instrumental) 2:07 │ │ 9. Everyday There's A Battle To Fight 4:30 │ │ 10. In For The Kill 3:35 │ │ 11. Stormbringer 5:04 │ │ │ │ │ │ Total Length : 00:43:22 │ │ │ │ │ │ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ╔═════════════════════╗ │ │ ║ Greetings To: ║ │ │ ╚═════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ Too all people who contributes to make this │ │ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │■ ■│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘