ÜLTRA RAPTÖR – TYRANTS ( Review by Varg The Mighty )

 

Today’s review is of Canadian Speed Metal band Ültra Raptör’s debut album.

This release is a definite blast from the past. Plagued with shrieking solos, high vocal pitches, cool riffs and sci-fi lyrics, the full-length may appeal to any fan of fast, fun and true Metal. The songs mostly bring to mind early Helloween, though you can also feel elements of other German Speed Metal bands such as Paradox as well as influences of the sort of epic yet rough edged early USPM, and as usual the whole mix reminds of the general direction of most NWOTHM, though this release is less generic and has its bit of violence and even a pinch of darkness that differentiates it.

While the album starts off really powerful, towards the end the songs start to lose some freshness and start sounding slightly mediocre, but the beginning of the release surely compensates this flaw solidifying this opus of true, old-school and underground Metal. My personal highlights are “Missile (Metal Warrior)” and “Gale Runner”.

I recommend this album to fans of Speed Metal, Heavy Metal and early Power Metal. My rating is of 8,5/10.

VARG THE MIGHTY 

 

CÂN BARDD – DEVOURED BY THE OAK ( review by Varg The Mighty )

 

Today’s review is of Swiss Atmospheric Black Metal band Cân Bardd’s new album.

Delivering the passion and wrath inherent in nature’s purest lairs into a sonic offering, this album incorporates some elements of Folk and somewhat orchestral ambience in the likes of Limbonic Art into their heartfelt atmospheric grimness. Considering this, most songs are very long, and as so the album’s length may end up boring someone who isn’t into the subgenre, but if you enjoy the blackened hate of yore translated into epic songs you should check out this release.

Fans of any sort of melodic Extreme Metal that thrives on grandeur may like the full-length, and while it is true that at times it may stick too comfortably to the current formula for Atmospheric Black Metal, at times in strays in a statement of personality that gives the band a nice character, as seen in the slower bits comparable to Panopticon. My personal highlights are “Une Couronne De Branches” and “Crépuscule”, but a whole play is recommended given the album’s continuity. 

 I recommend this album to fans of Atmospheric Black Metal, Blackened Folk Metal and Symphonic Black Metal. My rating is of 8,5/10.

VARG THE MIGHTY