HIGH WARDEN – Astral Iron

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6.0

• Bands:
  HIGH WARDEN
• Duration: 00:37:45
• Available from: 11/22/2024
• Label:

• Dying Victims Productions

Streaming not yet available

There is a particular stylistic scope in the vast and multifaceted world of heavy metal which, although usually associated with the most orthodox and traditional thing possible to find in the genre, is also the result of a wide mix of influences and experimentations: we are talking about epic metal, whose origins are to be found both in the slow and evocative times of Black Sabbath, and in Led Zeppelin's powerful rides of “Immigrant Song” or “Achilles Last Stand”, in the subsequent developments both in the doom and hard rock groups of the late Seventies as well as in the nascent NWOBHM, leaving the lyrics as the true common thread – although even on this front it is possible to find considerable variety.
The debutants High Warden from Münster, Westphalia, rightfully fall into this subgenre, but it is therefore necessary to specify what characteristics define their epic metal. The lyrics first and foremost: they tell of battles, warriors and destiny, straddling fantasy, history and mythology, giving the right atmosphere to the songs.
Musically, however, we are in the presence of an epic metal very close to doom: the pieces are all rhythmic, with a particular predisposition for electric guitar rides and arpeggios; the most obvious references are Cirith Ungol, Manilla Road, Manowar from the second album “Into Glory Ride” and Candlemass in the marked doom components.
The voice is in a tenor register that is not too high and is a sort of cross between Deathmaster of our Doomsword and the Hansi Kürsch of the very first albums with Blind Guardian. The rhythm section is functional without particular flashes; However, it is important to underline that the album was recorded live and this denotes a certain harmony between the instruments. The sound, sparse and rough, winks at the productions of the Eighties, but without sounding particularly nostalgic. The solo guitar passages are a bit poor, but that's okay, we know how much today we tend to favor other aspects, in clear contrast to a certain past abuse of solos, especially in the field of classic metal.
Unfortunately, from the point of view of song composition, the German trio does not particularly shine: the pieces are often disjointed, and a certain underlying monolithic nature is evident, above all, as already mentioned, in the indulgence in electric rides and arpeggios; then consider that in just under forty minutes High Warden present just six songs, one of which is just a short interlude of synthesizer and guitar feedback, and this makes listening at times tiring.
The first “The Morn Is Wiser Than The Eve” is very compelling, which closely recalls Doomsword's “Resound The Horn” and “Let Battle Commence”, as the setlist continues however the Alemanni tend to get lost a bit along the way, perhaps also due to a certain verbosity which was mentioned earlier.
Thus, the excellent intuitions on the riffs of “Devil His Due / Whores Of Yerusalim” or the quotes from “Gloves of Metal” by Manowar and “Creeping Death” by Metallica in the title track are not enough to revive the fortunes of the album, and to find another center you have to end with the long and lilting “We Shall Burn At Foreign Shores (The Choice Of Achilles)” which refers to Bathory's “Twilight Of The Gods” or “Blood On Ice”; The ending with pleasant reminiscences of early Celtic Frost is also appreciable.
The good thing is certainly the ability to fit in with personality and authority in a genre where above all a great attitude is required rather than the ability to adhere to a precise stylistic canon, a fundamental characteristic of early metal and its apotheosis; but this is not enough to push the High Wardens beyond an honorable sufficiency.