Album
Type :
Full Length
Date
Released : 31/1/2014
Label
: Nuclear
Blast
Triumph
and Power, album tracklisting :
1.
On Hooves Of Gold 5:24
2.
Steel Versus Steel 5:18
3.
Fight 4:06
4.
Triumph And Power 4:36
5.
Dominator 4:20
6.
Arv 1:57
7.
Holmgång 3:38
8.
The Naked And The Dead 3:02
9.
Ymer 2:54
10.
The Hammer Will Bite 6:54
Bio
:
GRAND
MAGUS was founded by JB Christofferson (vocals/guitars) and Mats
“Fox” Skinner (bass) in 1996. Two years later, Fredrik “Trisse”
Liefvendahl joined in on the drums and the first two demos were
released. In November of 2001 the self-titled debut album –
obviously inspired by the late creative period of bands such as BLACK
SABBATH or DEEP PURPLE - was published on the European and US market.
»Monument« (2003) and »Wolf’s Return« (2005) followed,
receiving but praiseful press reactions. On their fourth studio
outcome, »Iron Will« (2008) GRAND MAGUS present a redefined style
and grand expertise, still acknowledging their own roots, gaining
perfect scores with the music press again and being entitled the
soundcheck winner with German Metal Hammer.
The
Swedes’ most current output »The Hunt« was not only amongst the
nominees for “Best Album” at this years’ edition of Metal
Hammer Awards, furthermore JB Christofferson was also listed for the
”God
Of Riffs”-Award – an honorary
title he has been holding ever since.
And
to top it all, »The
Hunt«,
which was unleashed May 25, 2012 via Nuclear Blast, went hunting
around the European charts, succeeding with the following entries:
#12 of the UK Rock charts, #42 in Germany, #6 of the Sweden
Rock/Metal charts, #68 in Austria and #76 in Switzerland.
Album
number seven has been giving the meaningful name »Triumph And
Power«. To present the new creation, GRAND MAGUS will hit the road
alongside Icelandic label mates THE VINTAGE CARAVAN for the “Rock
Revelation Tour 2014”. Don’t miss the chance to witness two
generations of Rock sharing stages at the following dates:
The
Band :
JB
| vocals, guitar
Fox | bass
Ludwig | drums
Fox | bass
Ludwig | drums
Review
:
To
be clear, I am a fan of Grand Magus. Ever since I first heard
“Monument” ten years ago and saw them supporting Orange Goblin
(with Witchcraft as well- what a bill!) at the Bradford Rio in 2004,
I have bought every album and looked forward to each one. For me,
“The Hunt” was a little too hard rock and somehow not metal
enough. To make a comparison, it was Rainbow to Dio-era Sabbath
(nothing against Rainbow, as “Rising” is superb). I love the doom
of “Monument,” the unabashed Priest worship of “Wolf's Return,”
“Iron Will” and the more measured “Hammer of The North.”
Their first record- stoner/hard rock- was good stuff too, but not
what I came to love about the band. The question regarding “Triumph
and Power,” then is: is it more hard rock or more metal?!
Pleasingly,
I can tell you that this is a metal tour de force. Yes, there is
melody, vocal hooks and a more laid back pace to some tracks, but
this is firmly, gloriously, unashamedly heavy metal. Planning on
riding into battle? This record is for you. On
Hooves of Gold opens
proceedings with an almost slow burn feel and a glorious chorus.
Steel
Versus Steel
is as good as the title suggests- very hooky and very reminiscent of
the very best metal of the 80's. Mid paced and chugging, this
showcases JB's astounding voice and his way with choruses that will
stick in your head. The album is off and running! Fight
follows and keeps the energy up- anthemic and oh-so-metal in theme in
content, if you have missed prime Judas Priest (the metal years; I'm
talking 77-84... and 90, here) then get this track on your stereo
ASAP. Rolling triplets and superb lead work are very much on the
menu.
Dare
I mention Manowar here? Well, I have to; the record is shot through
with hymns to a more straightforward and harsher time- the idea that
crushing your enemies, seeing them driven before you and hearing the
lamentation of their women is very much a good thing and is expressed
neatly throughout. Landing midway between “Battle Hymns” “Hail
to England” and the Ross The Boss solo records, this album is a
veritable feast for anyone who may feel either that getting into
Manowar is a step too far, or wished that Manowar would make records
like they used to.
The
title track sums up the album perfectly, both in lyrics, title and
music. The song lays waste to all before it with an immense chorus,
great vocals and the band working together as an unstoppable unit.
Fox's distinctive distorted bass tone underpins the guitar and vocal
pyrotechnics as Ludwig Witte's very live and old school sounding kit
gets a right hammering. Dominator
keeps the album as metal as the most metal record you can think of
(Painkiller? Powerslave?). This is pure traditional heavy metal with
a Scandinavian sensibility behind it. The build up section to the
solo and the solo itself is headbanging heaven, by the way.
Arv
provides a Scandinavian break of acoustic melancholy, thus making the
album even more metal. Holmgang
follows with monk like chanting to open, Swedish title, English
lyrics and a world-view straight out of the dark ages. The
Naked and The Dead
follows by upping the pace to foot on the monitor levels, more battle
grounds and warriors abound, but certainly NO MERCY, continuing the
metal in its purest form.
Ymer
allows another brooding acoustic intermission before things go full
blown epic for The
Hammer Will Bite-
following in the rich tradition of Grand Magus album closers. The
track is epic and of course full of histrionics, but thankfully the
band always stay on the right side of the metal spectrum; Euro power
metal this is not- think classic Maiden, not Helloween/Blind Guardian
etc. They never resort to Sabaton-style silliness.
Grand
Magus were, are, and surely will remain, one of the greatest heavy
metal bands in the world. Not
thrash/death/retro/black/power/sludge/stoner/doom or even trad...
this is heavy metal in its purest form. This is not about partying-
there are no Americanisms here. This is about Triumph. This about
Power. This album is real metal and looks back to that which once
was. It also shows us all what metal could be again. Buy this album,
make a start towards bringing back metal in its purest form and make
a start towards being the hero you always knew you were.
Words
by :
Richard Maw
You
can buy it here
For
more information
