VHALDEMAR
“AGAINST ALL KINGS”
Album Review By Iron Mathew

10/10

Vhaldemar are a heavy metal band from Spain formed in 1999, releasing their debut album ‘Fight To The End’ in 2002 and the follow up ‘I Made My Own Hell’ the following year. The bands third album ‘Metal Of The World’ was released in 2011, with their fourth album ‘Shadows Of Combat’ emerging in 2013. Signing a new deal with Fighter Records in 2017, Vhaldemar released the five song E.P. ‘Old King’s Visions’ and have just released their fifth full length album ‘Against All Kings’. Featuring a number of special guest musicians from the Spanish heavy metal scene, ‘Against All Kings’ is full of twists and turns.

Vhaldemar are a power metal band from Spain, yet their sound is definitely steeped in the mighty German power metal scene. From the off, the bands new album is quickly into its stride with the bombastic and anthemic ‘Metalizer’. Full of power with a thumping melodic stomp, ‘Metalizer’ is one hundred percent heavy metal. Add a sing a long chant style chorus and the fuse is lit, ready for Vhaldemar to explode into life. And explode they do with an almighty bang…’Old King’s Visions (Part V) rockets into life and sets off at high velocity. Thundering along at high speed, ‘Old King’s Visions (Part V) is catchy, infectious and head bangingly addictive. The bands vocalist has a growly throaty rasp, not too dissimilar to Chris Boltendahl, lead singer for the iconic German power metal band Grave Digger. Indeed, it is bands such as Grave Digger, Accept and Rage that are a major influence on the sound of Vhaldemar. The title song ‘Against All Kings’ is a huge foot stomping anthem of melodic power metal. The guitar sound is just awesome, owing much to the NWOBHM evolution throughout the eighties. Just three songs in and Vhaldemar have set the airways alight with their explosive barrage of heavy metal.

And the barrage doesn’t let up either, as ‘Eye For An Eye’ thunders in and scorches a blistering trail across the earth. Head bangingly addictive, ‘Eye For An Eye’ features additional lead vocals by Roma, lead singer for Spanish heavy metal band Evil Seeds. The pace and power of the album is simply breath taking. The buzzing guitar sound on ‘I Will Stand Forever’ raises the hairs on the back of my forearms, such is its effect. Foot stomping melodic power metal has never sounded so good. Vhaldemar are doing the genre proud, delivering a magnificent album that is gonna make a huge impact on the worldwide heavy metal scene. ‘Vulcano’ is thirty seconds of keyboards allowing the listener a very short breather, leading into the barnstorming ‘Howling At The Moon’. High on energy, intensity and full of pace, ‘Howling At The Moon’ is the fastest song on the album and steps fully into the speed metal genre as it rockets on by. Another guest vocalist steps up to the mic, adding his superb voice to an already superb song. Ruben Miranda from Spanish heavy metal band Krait has a cracking voice and his vocals fit perfectly into ‘Howling At The Moon’.

So, two thirds through the album and can it get any better? A definite yes is the answer, although the intro for ‘The Last To Die’ features the disturbing and distressing sound of a crying baby…the only blemish on a superb album. That blemish aside, should anyone ask “what does power metal sound like?”, simply play them ‘The Last To Die’. Everything that power metal stands for is captured in this magical journey, a proper “foot on the monitor” style romp. With absolutely no let up in either power or pace, ‘Walking On The Rain’ thunders on, with heads banging everywhere. The energy and intensity levels throughout the album have been at their highest possible, leaving the listener gasping for breath. There hasn’t even been a ballad, or any form of “lighters in the air” moments to catch a breath. And there isn’t gonna be any either as the album hurtles towards its end with the speed metal fuelled ‘Rebel Mind’, featuring a third guest vocalist, Inaki Lazcano from Spanish melodic metal band Coffeinne. ‘Rebel Mind’ is energetic and fast paced, bringing a glorious album to a glorious end…well almost…’Titans In D Minor’ actually closes the album, a two minute guitar and keyboard instrumental, full of passion and emotion.

Overall, the nearest to perfection you will ever get in a power metal album, Vhaldemar have delivered an exciting and breath taking journey of brilliance.

TRACKLIST

Metalizer
Old King’s Visions (Part V)
Against All Kings
Eye For An Eye
I Will Stand Forever
Vulcano
Howling At The Moon
The Last To Die
Walking In The Rain
Rebel Mind
Titans In D Minor

http://www.vhaldemar.net/
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