I'm starting to catch up on some newer releases, but one other thing I've decided to focus on is Extended Play releases. To be honest, EPs are something that I've never really quite understood, but they remain a constant of the heavy metal scene. I guess if you feel compelled to release something, I suppose it's better to release a handful of solid tracks instead of throwing on a bunch of filler tracks to fill an album. However, reviewing them is still a bit odd. With a full album, you can get a sense of what the band is thinking and feeling at the moment, but an EP just feels like a step or two up from a taste (which I guess would be singles, in this analogy?).
Nevertheless, as I began looking over bands' discographies and new releases, there are plenty EPs to discuss. So I decided I would include them as little mini-reviews in my Last Played articles in between the main album reviews. In any case, regardless of format, here's what I've listening to lately.
After enjoying their single "Silent Stone" as a solid piece of Maiden worship, I figured I should give the rest of their latest album a listen. Right out of the gates, these guys are clearly aiming for that early Iron Maiden era of Killers, Number of the Beast, and Piece of Mind. Sometimes they lean into the NWOBHM side with a dash of rock, but other times, they turn up the epic, with decent results.
Of course, it's not completely like Iron Maiden, as there are a few tracks that feel closer to US power metal, like "Mercy" and the doomy "The Nightmare of Aeon," but honestly, that's a pretty subtle difference. Regardless, this band certainly has the chops. David Foster's vocals are very much like Dickinson's, and he's given plenty of opportunities to wail high above the music (though he does get a little buried on "Arrival"). Then there's the lead guitar work of Jack MacMichael and Matthew Thomas. When they aren't chugging away at classic-styled riffs, they are often trading solos, or playing harmonized leads together, clearly reminiscent of Murray and Smith. If it weren't for the modern production, this could easily make you feel like it's 1983 all over again.
If there is a problem, it's that there aren't a lot of surprises. This album really feels the same from front-to-back. Sure, they change up the tempo here and there, and there are a few segments were they break out the acoustic guitar, but it's usually in anticipation of some epic metal shift like "Foreverless," or in the bridge of a larger song like "Lord of Sleep, Dreamaster." However, for those who can't get enough of that old-school Maiden sound and want to hear some guys who are pretty good at it, this is some solid classic metal.
Lovebites - Glory, Glory to the World (EP)
This release is probably a little bittersweet, as it was part of an announcement of an incoming hiatus caused by the leaving of their bassist, Miho. While it retains much of the frenetic power metal they're known for, I don't think these songs are quite as good as what was on Electric Pentagram, which I loved. "Paranoia" certainly shows the band's darker, more theatrical side, but otherwise, the songs are pretty standard fare for this band. Expect plenty of high-speed shredding and catchy melodies, but nothing particularly earth-shattering.
After checking out their first album, I decided to give their latest a spin, and it's pretty surprising how little has changed in the 10 years between them. While the production is a little richer and the guitars have a bit more crunch (and there are less ballads), this is still some pretty straight-forward, 80s-inspired melodic rock from top to bottom.
Of course, it also makes it hard to review, as nothing really stands out too much. I will say that the lyrics lean into the clichés quite a bit, but they're sung so sincerely you can't help but get caught up in the sentimentality of it all. The music supports every word of it, with friendly, rockin' guitars and lush keyboards to make everything so warm and accessible. It's a bit of a shorter album, but that only helps the pace feel brisk and not get bogged down. Essentially, Lionville are the epitome of modern AOR, and it may not make many new fans, I generally enjoyed what I heard.
Greyhawk - Ride Out (EP)
Likely named after the classic D&D campaign setting, Greyhawk is very much in the vein of classic US power metal, a la Omen, Manilla Road, and Manowar. I quite liked the vocals by Rev Taylor, and they were often harmonized, which added to the epicness. Otherwise, it's some pretty straight-forward chugging old-school metal, with plenty of noodly guitars one expects from the style. "The Abdication," and "Serpent King" stood out to me the most, with the former being quite epic, and the latter having some great energy. This certainly is a solid taste of what this band has to offer, and I'm curious to listen to more, so I guess this EP did its job!
Let's wrap this up this article with finally getting caught up on HammerFall! These power metal legends are still going, and while their sound hasn't changed much over the past decade, they still have a knack for some decent epic and melodic tracks.
Right off the bat, we get "Brotherhood" for the opener, providing a very classic HammerFall feel. From there, it's mostly mid-tempo material, with a few change ups. "Hammer of Dawn" and "Venerate Me" are probably the best of the stompy tracks, while "Live Free or Die," and the closer "No Mercy" do a good job to bring back the speed. Supposedly King Diamond is on "Venerate Me," but I could never hear him (that's not a voice you can mistake; was he just part of the chorus?). However, the really different track is "Not Today." While it's not a ballad, it does have a more mellow rock vibe, with clean guitar tones throughout, except for the melodic choruses. I don't recall them doing anything quite like this, but it's not bad. A bit an experiment, I guess.
Overall, I think this is better than their last album Dominion, as I feel it's a little more consistent across the board. However, I'm not sure how it would compare to the others. The first five still loom large in my nostalgia goggles, and I don't think they've ever really reached those heights since. Still, I'm glad they're carrying on, and Hammer of Dawn shows that they're aren't out of magic quite yet.
Well, I hope you don't mind me throwing in a few EPs this time. They broke things up a little, at least. Looking ahead, I'm not sure where I'll go next. I'm thinking of doing a Last Played purely on albums from 1997, as there are a bunch of big ones from that year that I haven't heard yet. We'll see. In the meantime, I've got another Anniversary Article coming up for 1987, and I'm finding more videos to share, so that should round out this month. Until then, rock on! \m/
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