Megaton Sword

[Eoin McLove]

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.

[spiritcrusher]

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.

[Eoin McLove]

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.

[OpenSores]

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.

[Circlepit]

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.

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

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.

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

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  )

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.

[open face surgery]

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.

[Eoin McLove]

Blasting the album here again now. So epic. This stuff would be unreal live.

Arrrgggh, the chorus in 'Verene'... lovely lovely lovely... yum.

[Western Viking]

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.

[Eoin McLove]

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.

[Eoin McLove]

Crimson River close to edging Verene off top spot. It's neck and neck. Stay tuned...

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

An endlessly rewarding album, as is the EP which I inevitably follow it up with.

[Thorn]

I always follow it up with the Eternal Champion that came out around the same time.

[Eoin McLove]

I've still not bought either Eternal Champion album as they are always over priced, but I really should rectify that soon.