AMULET
“THE INEVITABLE WAR”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

9/10

Amulet are a heavy metal band from the UK forming in 2010, releasing the four song E.P. ‘Cut The Crap’ in 2011. The bands debut album ‘The First’ was released in 2014, with their sophomore album ‘The Inevitable War’ a 2019 release.

Although the legendary NWOBHM evolution was four decades ago, the iconic sound still lives and breaths today – and in the shape of bands such as UK metallers Amulet, the NWOBHM will continue to live and breath. The bands second album ‘The Inevitable War’ is a thunderous gallop of classic sounding, traditional heavy metal. ‘The Inevitable War’ explodes into life with ‘The Satanist’, a glorious high paced rampage of blistering guitars and head banging rhythms. The foot on the monitor styled charge is in full flight as ‘The Satanist’ romps on and on. With an upturn in pace, energy and tempo, ‘Shockwave’ scorches the Earth as it hurtles by at break neck speed. ‘Shockwave’ is one hundred percent British heavy metal at its best – think Raven, Angel Witch and Samson, and there you have the Amulet sound. Introducing the more melodic side to heavy metal, ‘Burning Hammer’ is catchy and infectious with an anthemic style chorus for fans to screech and scream as they manically sing along.

Forty minutes and nine songs is a little lightweight compared to many modern day albums, but sometimes it’s the quality and not quantity that counts. Amulet deliver a passion and pride filled journey of classic heavy metal to get the pulse racing, head nodding, feet tapping and hands in the air… ‘Call Of The Siren’ is a much more mid tempo offering, echoing the doom style riffing that Black Sabbath brought to the world. A very heavy foot stomping rhythm carries ‘Call Of The Siren’ to a conclusion. Not speaking the Spanish language, I have to admit to using a free translation website for (the instrumental) ‘La noche de las gaviotas’ – it translates to ‘Night Of The Seagulls’, which also happens to be a 1975 Spanish horror film. Not sure what, or if, there is a connection here, but with seagull sounds in the background as ‘La noche de las gaviotas’ plays out, am guessing there must be… ‘Siege Machine’ is ballsy, punchy and hard hitting heavy metal straight out of the NWOBHM era. A mid tempo gallop, heavy hitting rhythms and a catchy sing a long style chorus will infect you, and cause you to smile casually, in recognition of the old school vibe that emanates from every second of ‘Siege Machine’,

Entering the final third of the album, and Amulet pick up the pace and tempo, running amok with the (very much Raven sounding) ‘Gateway To Hell’. I was fortunate to have grown up during the eighties during the burgeoning NWOBHM evolution, when bands such as Raven, Angel Witch and Samson were setting the foundations for what was to become one of the biggest genres in heavy metal music. My love for those bands and their sound, has made this album an instant like for me. Atmospheric and eerie as it opens, ‘Poison Chalice’ takes on a more menacing feel as it heavily stomps on its way. More doom style Black Sabbath riffing ensues as ‘Poison Chalice’ majestically marches on. The album is brought to a close with the eight minute plus, three parter, title song ‘Roundhead I: Before The Battle/II: The Inevitable War/III: The Protectorate’. Stepping into the glory and epic genres of heavy metal music, Amulet deliver an infectious, story telling finale.

Overall, a glorious gallop of traditional heavy metal, heavily influenced by the iconic sound of the legendary NWOBHM evolution.

TRACKLIST

The Satanist
Shockwave
Burning Hammer
Call Of The Siren
La noche de las gaviotas
Siege Machine
Gateway To Hell
Poison Chalice
Roundhead

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