WAR DOGS Album Review: “Only The Stars Are Left”

WAR DOGS
“Only The Stars Are Left”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

9/10

War Dogs are a heavy metal band from Spain formed in 2015 releasing their self titled debut E.P. in 2018, debut album ‘Die By My Sword’ in 2020, and sophomore album ‘Only The Stars Are Left’ in 2024.

Founded by guitarist Edu Anton, the bands line-up is completed by bass player Manuel Molina, drummer Jose V. Aldeguer, and vocalist/guitarist Alberto Rodriguez – the bands new album a barnstorming ten songs across fifty fast paced minutes incorporating War Dogs mix of traditional and epic heavy metal in the vein of bands such as Iron Maiden, Manilla Road, Mercyful Fate and Visigoth. ‘Only The Stars Are Left’ opens with the mellow sub one minute intro ‘The Hour Of Fate’…

…building to an anticipative crescendo where the band let all hell break loose with the galloping traditional metaller ‘The Prosecution’. War Dogs plant their feet firmly on the old school monitor here to echo the classic sound of heavy metal, ‘The Prosecutor’ grabbing the attentions of every listener everywhere as ‘Riders Of The Storm’ err, ahem, storms in to maintain the albums incredible head bang ability and all conquering intensity! The opening brace has oozed traditional heavy metal to the max, War Dogs hitting the accelerator mid-song to send ‘Riders Of The Storm’ hurtling forth at blistering speed, the dynamic and sudden change of pace electrifying! And with just as much suddenness, all pace is dropped in favour of a slow stroll for ‘Heaven’s Judgement’, the band roaring into life after a minute or so to resume the overwhelming traditional metal onslaught, the worldwide mosh pits just a sea of heads banging and fists punching the air.

With the album up and running at full steam ahead, War Dogs increase the pace even more – ‘Astral Queen’ chiming in as the fastest song heard so far, banging heads faster and more violently than at any other time on the album so far, ‘Only The Stars Are Left’ maintaining the sky high intensity level it began with, ‘Fallen Angel’ shuddering the ground with an anthemic mid tempo foot stomp. The band march forward with a strong rabble rousing nature, wobbling walls and shaking buildings with a mighty bombastic attitude, every listener, fan and follower feeling the effect of the Spanish band’s power! And that power is put to very good use, ‘Vendetta’ accelerating to a hundred miles an hour in a matter of seconds, War Dogs storming along the autopista at speeds much higher than local limits, the band evading the traffic police with consummate ease! The title song ‘Only The Stars Are Left’, opens with a hymn-like swagger, the band at their mellowest since the album began – but not for long, ‘Only The Stars Are Left’ (the song) proceeding to punch hard with an almighty crunch just after the minute mark, the iconic metal gallop taking front and centre as the album ambles forth at a highly energetic mid tempo pace.

Ever since the album began, War Dogs have kept the pedal to the metal with just the occasional lift, ‘The Seventh Seal’ rocketing into life and soaring faster than a bullet as the level of head bang ability rises right through the roof! ‘Only The Stars Are Left’ (the album) has been an incredible workout for the neck muscles, every head banger around the world stretching their necks to breaking point as heads become a blur – the album coming to a close with the longest song on offer, ‘The Vengeance Of Ryosuke Taiwara’ clocking in at seven minutes in length! And what a seven minutes, the band delivering a variation fuelled album ender, from the atmospheric intro to the crescendo building NWOBHM guitar riffing to an almighty thunderous gallop and a mid song breakdown that lands firmly and squarely in the epic and glory genres of metal, ‘The Vengeance Of Ryosuke Taiwara’ rounds off a very good album of heavy metal.

Overall, pace, power and head bang ability collide with a huge bang to produce an array of old school metal that’s sure to please everyone.

TRACKLIST

The Hour Of Fate (intro)
The Prosecution
Riders Of The Storm
Heaven’s Judgement
Astral Queen
Fallen Angel
Vendetta
Only The Stars Are Left
The Seventh Seal
The Vengeance Of Ryosuke Taiwara

https://wardogsheavymetal.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/WarDogsHeavyMetal

This review is the property of Iron Mathew, Frenzy Fire and Metal Gods TV. It is strictly prohibited to copy any part of this review, unless you have both of the parties’ permission, or are the band/record label/PR company in question. Failure to adhere to these instructions will be considered as Plagiarism and you will be reported to the appropriate authorities


Leave a comment