MYSTIC PROPHECY - RAVENLORDLabel: Massacre RecordsRelease: 2011 Review Author: Captain Rattlehead |
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| It's interesting to see styles deviate from the norm in ways you'd not expect them to. Some of them do so subtly, others overzealously, but all of it double-take inducing. Consider the darker end of the power metal spectrum, where groups like ICED EARTH, POWERWOLF and these here MYSTIC PROPHECY folks show that not everything with epic riffs and wild choirs has to be clad in a fragrant scent. Sometimes that scent is that of burning fire, decaying flesh, and brimstone, and in the end, it can be just as entertaining, if not more so during certain times of the year or mindsets (its hard to enjoy a good, dark mood with Luca Turilli making you simultaneously head bang and giggle). So with that said, lets see what this Ravenlord work has in store for me/us Right away, for those who arent in the know about MYSTIC PROPHECY, they would be hard-pressed to classify these dudes as power metal hell, even after going a few songs in itd still be hard to do so. This is a bit of a different beast, encapsulating a few other influential influences into their epic sound, making the bulk of Ravenlord a darker, almost violent affair than one would be used to. The Euro-born roots are still deeply held in its personal soil, but the influx of a more thrash-like foundation and a dusting of melodic death leads give the music a fist-raising rage and sense of defiance that leads one to grab his sword and fight WITH the demons rather than AGAINST them. Thats the plan, it seems; maybe Hell got a little tired of all those fake black metal acts and needed something different to have their army of darkness come together as a whole, and Attila Dorn could only bring so many into the fold. Some of the more fantasy-loving, armor-wearing types brought in to even out all those corpsepainters, perhaps?. Well, if thats the case, then what we have here is a hell of a recruitment tool, a fine example of shadow-clad metal wherein the dramatic end is left to the music and not the behind-the-scenes politics other dark and wicked acts tend to dwell within. With no keyboards present to add pomp to the thick layers of musical ashes and soot, much of the melody is a bit forsook in favor of outright heaviness and a guitar-centric approach that augments said heavy feel with intense ferocity. There are moments, though, where lighter moments shine through, be they the twin harmonic leads or slightly serene-sounding vocals, only to be crushed under the oppressive weight of the chunky riffs and some pissed-the-hell-off growls that, actually, fit the scheme of things pretty nicely, and the end result is a very solid affair that may not appeal to the more elves and fairy worshipping crowd but can still stand on its own two feet in terms of competence and all-out ballsiness. That said, though, this is an album with much to offer, though not a lions share, as many of the songs end quicker than youd expect; more two-dimensional in its central feel, this is more of an album to listen to and enjoy rather than giving one fodder feed for the creation of his/her own mental wonderland. Not that theres anything WRONG with that...even some of the most bombastic groups out there cant escape drudgeriness despite the dozens of layers within each song, and when it comes down to it, this particular piece of work, with strong tracks like Die Now!!, Damned Tonight and Endless Fire, sparks and sizzles within its own sense of limitation. At the end of the day, Ravenlord turned out to be quite the enjoyable little album, proving that a choking weed can still grow amidst fields of colorful flowers (PLEASE tell me you understand that analogy ). Good for their long-time fans, and even worthy of the collection of those who just want a good time rockin out to honest, slightly simple demonic metal. http://www.mysticprophecy.net/ http://www.massacre-records.com/ |
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