Storytelling is intrinsic to the passage of information from technology to technology. Inside our metal-cast nook of the multiverse, a couple of subgenres deal with storytelling overtly: most frequently prog but in addition, as is the case at the moment, energy metallic. Coming into this evaluation, I used to be underneath the impression that the story of Conan the Barbarian was confined to the plot line of an outdated Arnold film—I couldn’t have been extra mistaken. The Hyborian Age is a sprawling prehistoric world designed by Robert E. Howard within the 1930s, set between the autumn of Atlantis and the rise of conventional historical past. Enter French band Nemedian Chronicles and their 70-minute slab of sword and sorcery, ripped straight from the pages of Howard’s tales. Intrigued by the excessive fantasy idea—and baited by an Ennio Morricone namedrop—I dove headfirst into their debut album The Savage Sword.
Nemedian Chronicles play a model of energy metallic within the vein of Hammerfall and Blind Guardian, with a little bit of the barbarian stomp of Manowar and the epic sweep of Atlantean Codex. The band is organized in a basic Maiden twin-axe assault formation, supported by a gorgeously organized orchestral backdrop. Alexandre Duffau places on a vocal masterclass, with a reedy low register that transitions into highly effective full-throated highs, particularly when paired with one other vocalist (“Born on a Battlefield,” “The Tune of Purple Sonja”). The remainder of the band not often misses a step of their performances, and their prowess is on full show in album spotlight “Black Lotus/The Curse of Thog,” which takes me again to “Egypt” and “The Loss of life of Stability/Lacrymosa” from Symphony X’s V; one of many highest bars in epic energy metallic so far as this author is anxious.
Good performances are just one half of a profitable idea album, and fortunately for Nemedian Chronicles their strongest asset is their means to sonically immerse the listener of their world. Opener “Nemedian Chronicles” nails the requisite idea album introduction with thunderous tribal drums and orchestrals bolstering a scene-setting monologue; I’m reminded of the start of Aeternam’s Inheritor of the Rising Solar, however much more cinematic in scope. A treasure horde of music follows, from anthemic choruses (“Born on the Battlefield,” “The Factor within the Crypt,” “The Tune of Purple Sonja”) to triple-time sea shanties (“Tigress of the Black Coast”) to an abyssal of terror in “Black Lotus/The Curse of Thog.” Credit score to bassist Guillaume Lefebvre right here with not solely his stringed duties, but in addition writing all of the music and lyrics, the latter of which continuously straight describe Conan’s exploits. Followers of the supply materials will discover lots to like right here, and anybody who likes to observe clear tales of their music will expertise the identical.
For all of the accolades I lay upon The Savage Sword, I see areas of enchancment for the Frenchmen. The greatest, and maybe most evident one, pertains to bloat. Nemedian Chronicles’ problem isn’t a lot the standard of fabric that must be jettisoned, however the repetition of it (“Monsterslayer,” “The Tune of Purple Sonja”). One other problem—and your mileage could fluctuate right here—is the setting of the lyrics. Alexandre Duffau is clearly an achieved vocalist, however the sheer quantity of phrases that should be delivered usually appears to overpower the remainder of the music for the advantage of the plot; the 9-minute “Tower of the Elephant” is very at fault right here. There’s additionally a peculiar tendency for the band to all of the sudden shift the tempo or meter from verse to refrain, which makes some tracks a bumpier pay attention than I’d choose (“Tower of the Elephant,” “Tigress of the Black Coast,” “Stygian Sons of Set”).
These most nit of picks apart, Nemedian Chronicles hit all the appropriate notes for me relating to memorable energy metallic. When the closing tribal drums of “The Highway of Kings” convey the album full circle, I’m left far more impressed than drained. Listening to this report led me to analysis the world Robert E. Howard constructed, which enriched subsequent spins. This can be a mightily robust debut from a talented outfit, and with some tightening within the lyrical and enhancing departments, Nemedian Chronicles may simply lay siege to our a lot-vaunted security counter. I heartily advocate The Savage Sword for followers of the comics or energy metallic normally; regulate these guys.
Ranking: 3.5/5.0
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
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Releases Worldwide: February 23rd, 2024