Giving these Swiss heavy metallers a spin now for the first time. This is great sounding traditional metal, similar to Eternal Champion with maybe a little more grit in the mix. Very catchy stuff with fantastic powerful and distinctive vocals and a unique lyrical voice too.
https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/megaton-sword-niralet
A bit of Megadeth and Stone Axe in the mix too perhaps.
Pretty cool actually, usually when I see a new band under 'traditional metal' they're just carbon copies of maiden or priest.
Definitely get a Youthanasia feel of it.
Kind of like a reedy Cirith Ungol in the vocal department in places. It's really not that good, not in the same league as Stone Axe or Eternal Champion. And the band and song names sound like something produced by an algorithm; awful. Did listen to the whole thing though, and that's actually saying quite a lot these days! (Will be the only time though :abbath:)
I strongly disagree with you there. Musically it's pretty much as you'd expect, that much I'll concede, but the vocals take it to another level. The name is odd. It sounds more like a black thrash/ war metal band name to me, but the lyrics actually have a fair amount of character, I think. I'll be grabbing a CD to rock out to in the car.
Quote from: AndrewCooke on January 03, 2020, 06:13:11 PM
Pretty cool actually, usually when I see a new band under 'traditional metal' they're just carbon copies of maiden or priest.
Definitely get a Youthanasia feel of it.
The Priest/Maiden template has been run pretty dry so it takes a spectacular effort in that realm to catch my ear. Totally baffled by the love people have for Traveller, for example. It's an exercise in spot the influence from what I can make out. Total poser bullshit.
Quite like the music, but it's the vocals putting me off. Can't even place my finger on what it is I don't like, might just give it a few more spins and see if it clicks
Reminds me of the singer from Holy Terror for some reason. Mind Wars...now there's an album y'all need to get the finger out and listen to if you haven't yet. Will give this more of a listen before commenting. The name and the cover of the album are realy odd together.
Yeah, another good release from Dying Victim.
I like it, but I'm not sure if they quite have the songs to put them in the same bracket as a band like EC. The singer really does remind me of Sabbat (UK) at times, I can see people either loving or hating the vocals in general.
Giving the CD a spin here now. The vocals are criminally derivative of EC to my ear, but I still love them. His melodies are too good to resist. I'd say these songs are something else live with a few pints down the hatch.
Bitta Degamave in there too.
Listened to it a few times now, it's a promising debut. The standout track for me so far is Pristine War but that may change after more listens.
Agree with the comment about hearing this stuff live, think it would come across well. Will keep an eye out for them in future.
https://youtu.be/WVtmlrcdim8
Brilliant new song from their forthcoming album. I think this singer is a special talent. His melodies are complex and considered; he doesn't just hit the highest note he can and call it singing, he actually develops interesting and original patterns. Looking forward to hearing the album now.
Cool tune alright. Those fuckin bands pics though. Mudderajaysus. Artwork looks like an Adam Burke piece.
Haha yeah, the photos are gas. The dwarf (racist?) Holding a sword roughly nine times the size of him :laugh:
Not into the artwork either I have to say. I mean, it's grand but not very interesting. Great tune none the less.
Getting stuck into 'Blood Hails Steel- Steel Hails Fire' (dreadful album title) and I can stand by everything I said earlier in the thread. Musically there is very little to write home about in terms of innovation, but it does the job as a solid and heavy backdrop for the brilliant vocals. I'm actually not hearing a much Eternal Champion on the album compared to the EP. I think the vocal melodies are so strong and original- in many ways they don't particularly sound like they have been influenced by metal, they are more playful or something, but they work really well. The early standout song for me is the final song, 'The Giver's Embrace', and it's down to those creative vocal lines. Great stuff.
Edit. Fantastic lyrics as well. He has a real talent in that department. Topically it's very much par for the course, swords and sorcery, but his knack for turning a phrase elevates it above the usual heavy metal crap.
Totally agree with you McLove. I've read some places online complaining about the vocals but I think they're terrific. Nice variety in how he sings, not just the typical heavy metal wailing. Can hear the very slight Cirith Ungol influence alright. Probably prefer his singing to the Eternal Champion stuff!
The album overall is a tad patchy I'd say. But when it bangs, it fucking bangs. The title track is such an absolute slab of chest puffing battle cries. Just fucking building and building throughout the first two thirds, with a great payoff in the last couple of minutes. Such a well written song - probably my favourite of the past year.
Also, I think the album title is great. Hilarious. But great. Although that could be purely because of how he sings it in the actual song itself. He must say it 8 or 9 times and never once sang the same way.
Yeah the delivery of the album title is brilliant. It's just completely unmemorable. A minor complaint all things considered. It'll need more spins to fully absorb as there's a fair bit going on it the songs but I can see myself returning to it a lot.
Fantastic album that doesn't over stay it's welcome, I really like his vocals not too dissimilar in the way in which I enjoy Swanson's vocals, particularly in Sumerlands and his time in Hour of 13.
I tried this and I whilst the music is great the vocals are a big let down. Personally for this type of music o need the vocals to soar.
I love the album title and imagery though! Midget sword included.
Quote from: OpenSores on April 26, 2021, 03:57:46 PM
Fantastic album that doesn't over stay it's welcome, I really like his vocals not too dissimilar in the way in which I enjoy Swanson's vocals, particularly in Sumerlands and his time in Hour of 13.
I'm solidly enjoying my first listen here. Definitely agree with the Swanson comparison, well spotted. Though I might have to pull back a bit and say that it's only when he's at his best that this Megaton Sword lad sounds like him, and that otherwise there are a few not quite so solid moments, certain bellowed lines where he sounds closer to DK or Propaghandi style "punk" vocals, and I guess that would put a lot of people off.
Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on January 03, 2020, 07:49:54 PM
Kind of like a reedy Cirith Ungol in the vocal department in places. It's really not that good, not in the same league as Stone Axe or Eternal Champion. And the band and song names sound like something produced by an algorithm; awful. Did listen to the whole thing though, and that's actually saying quite a lot these days! (Will be the only time though :abbath:)
Today for some reason, over a year later, I'm really digging this EP! Looking back through the comments, Pedrito was definitely on to something with his Holy Terror comparison in the vocal department, although there's not much of that element left on the album.
There's a little yelp he does that is a ringer for Keith Deen alright. Listened to a track again off the EP yesterday as well as one from the album. Sounds like there is a fair shift in sound. Have them marked to go back to.
Blasting the album here again now. So epic. This stuff would be unreal live.
Arrrgggh, the chorus in 'Verene'... lovely lovely lovely... yum.
Gave these lads a quick listen last week and thought meh, didn't like the vocals at all but gave them a proper listen while doing OT yesterday and really liked the album, and the vocals are sound, Verene is some track, killer chorus.
Had this puppy blasting on the way in to work this morning. Such a belter of an album. I didn't want the drive to end.
Crimson River close to edging Verene off top spot. It's neck and neck. Stay tuned...
An endlessly rewarding album, as is the EP which I inevitably follow it up with.
I always follow it up with the Eternal Champion that came out around the same time.
I've still not bought either Eternal Champion album as they are always over priced, but I really should rectify that soon.
Armor of Ire is a bargain at any (reasonable) price. Ravening Iron is good too, but doesn't add too much you don't get from the first plus Retaliator from their split, which is still one of their best tracks.
Only giving this a right lash now. Great stuff.
It's addictive as hell. It sounds 100% metal but the vocal melodies sound influenced in places from outside the heavy metal sphere to my ear. At times he reminds me of somebody but I can never put my finger on it. His lyrics are unique, at least to my relatively untrained fantasy ear. Again, it's familiar territory but he seems to invest his own charger and voice into the text.
Quote from: Eoin McLove on December 15, 2021, 10:37:28 AMAt times he reminds me of somebody but I can never put my finger on it.
:laugh: I'm so close to figuring it out. One tune was riddled with Keith Deen but that's not the one and we were already on about that in the thread.
No, I'm hearing Tracey Chapman or someone like that in his voice :laugh:
And that's it fucked so. Ugh.
:D
Quote from: open face surgery on December 15, 2021, 11:23:05 AM
Quote from: Eoin McLove on December 15, 2021, 10:37:28 AMAt times he reminds me of somebody but I can never put my finger on it.
:laugh: I'm so close to figuring it out. One tune was riddled with Keith Deen but that's not the one and we were already on about that in the thread.
He puts me in mind of one of the Mastodon lads, not sure which one though.
Sounds sweet as a nut anyway, been listening to them a bit the last while, a purchase is called for.
This didn't click with me at all a few month back.
I couldn't get into the vocals but fuck me I stand corrected.
It's epic stuff. For some bizarre reason I'm hearing a bit of Anthony Kiedis in his voice.
https://youtu.be/D4O2O6jAOzY
New song from a new album with really cool artwork from Paolo Girardi. The song sounds really good and, again, a development from the first album which was a development from the EP. These dudes are bursting with creativity. Can't wait to pick up the album and play it to fukkin deth!
That's really good, the vocals seem more prominent in the mix, the art work is deadly.
Savage tune. Brought me back to the last MS album. Really need to pick that up.
Dying Victims Productions is a great label for HM.
Not that their voices are similar at all, but in terms of delivery, this lad is seriously out-Dioing Dio. Can't wait to hear the full thing.
Remember saying to a friend a few years ago that 'Dying Victims is on a fuckin tear right now'. Little did I know the streak would just last and last and last. Damn near everything they put out ranges from worthwhile to superb.
The fuckin' voice on this lad. Like the vocal embodiment of that Conan-style fantasy world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1d8uioX0II
Some pipes alright. Really dig the new album, probably my AOTY, have to respect any metal band that has the balls to close their album with a piano-led power ballad called 'Babe Eternal' in 2023... :abbath:
Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on December 14, 2023, 10:16:16 PMThe fuckin' voice on this lad. Like the vocal embodiment of that Conan-style fantasy world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1d8uioX0II
Quality!
Fully agree with the Babe Eternal comment and the love for the guy's vocals. It's that quirkiness and fearlessness to just go with what he feels to be right that makes this one of 2023's best albums.
This is definitely in my top 1 or 2 albums this year. And the vocals made it.
Couldn't understand that Banger review of it, and Blayne is normally pretty good
Prob more to do with same actor playing Mick Mars in that shite Motley Crue movie, but in terms of fantasy, doesn't the singer look a bit like Ramsay Bolton? :laugh: :abbath:
Great gear. This retro HM stuff is a miss for me 99.9% of the time but Megaton Sword have their own thing going on. There is usually some really annoying element to these bands but I'm not hearing it so far with this mob. Vocals and songwriting are top notch.
Quote from: Eoin McLove on December 15, 2021, 10:37:28 AMIt's addictive as hell. It sounds 100% metal but the vocal melodies sound influenced in places from outside the heavy metal sphere to my ear. At times he reminds me of somebody but I can never put my finger on it. His lyrics are unique, at least to my relatively untrained fantasy ear. Again, it's familiar territory but he seems to invest his own charger and voice into the text.
Listening to mainly the new album and the vocal similarities to other singers are there and its true, hard to put a finger on. On the song Power for instance I'm hearing the vocalist from Griftegard. Good range of HM styles and a step up from the earlier gear to my ears.
Christ, even I like this and I hate traditional/"epic" heavy metal. I'm also trying to figure out who the vocalist reminds me of..bit of the original Metal Church vocalist in there maybe? David Wayne?
So, who the fuck is this Urs Gut guy? Had a quick google but it didn't show up anything. They're on their third release, surely they've done loads of interviews at this stage and surely in one of them someone must have asked them about this lad who's written all the lyrics..? Anvil, you happened to dig up anything? (free gardening joke for ya there :laugh: )
The singer doesn't write the lyrics?
Hmm, maybe. In that case he uses two different names. You reckon his birth name isn't Uzzy Unchained??
That does make sense, Urs... Uzzy. I guess I was kinda hoping it was a separate lyricist, always found that set up interesting, be that aul Elton or Blue Öyster Cult.
Unchained is a common surname in Switzerland and Uzzy is short for Uzzabaloojawoojah, which in Switzerland is as common as John or David.
Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on July 26, 2024, 11:37:21 AMSo, who the fuck is this Urs Gut guy? Had a quick google but it didn't show up anything. They're on their third release, surely they've done loads of interviews at this stage and surely in one of them someone must have asked them about this lad who's written all the lyrics..? Anvil, you happened to dig up anything? (free gardening joke for ya there :laugh: )
The mystery just continues to grow...