Brothers of Metal – Emblas Saga
AFM Records
Release Date: 10/01/2020
Running Time: 55:06
Review by Tsarina Wilson
10/10 (Would have given it more than 10 if I could)
When I receive a new band to review, I tend to listen to the first two tracks and see if I can get an idea of their look before looking at a photo. I had an idea of Vikings in boats with torches held high, then I looked more into the band and wow I wasn’t far off. One thing you can say about “Emblas Saga” is that it’s non-stop brilliant. From the opening seconds it’s pure enjoyment with superb drumming, awesome guitar riffs and amazing vocals. For someone, like me, who loves things to do with Odin, Vikings and Norse history this is just a perfect album!
Brothers of Metal are definitely not your run of the mill metal band, they are more like adult Nordic story tellers with a hellava lot of metal but also with fun twists added, if you listen carefully! “Emblas Saga” twists and turns like the ‘Powersnake’ of track two. They take you on a journey within the stories and its like being on their Viking ship in rough seas with the constant up and down tempo.
This is the second album from the Scandinavian eight-piece band, who burst through your speakers like a thunderstorm on steroids, their first “Prophecy Of Ragnarök” was released in 2017. “Emblas Saga” is catchy and powerful but doesn’t lose its HEAVY appeal. If you add in the Nordic overtones it is superb
The female vocals of Ylva Eriksson are so clear yet have such power in them. Listen to the tracks ‘Powersnake’ and ‘Weaver Of Fate’ and you will understand what I mean. Joakim Eriksson’s vocals are powerful, raspy and gruff but compliment Ylva’s so well and you can still hear every word. Other members of the band are Mats Nilsson (vocals), Emil Wärmedal (bass), Dawid Grahn (guitars), Pähr Nilsson (guitars), Mikael Fehrm (guitars) and Johan Johansson on drums and they all come together like a Nordic family of story tellers!
With catchy choruses and continuous epic instrumentation this is a joy, for instance, check out the drumming in ‘Ride Of The Valkyries’ which is probably one of my favourite tracks on the album. Once again Ylva’s voice just makes the track but the fast drumming and guitar riffs will have you holding your pint of mead up in the air and singing along (just don’t try air guitaring or drumming at the same time!) Brothers Of Metal pull absolutely no punches and if you look up their videos on YouTube you’ll see that they have a great time making their music. They aren’t your stereotypical metal band and it sets them apart which is so refreshing when so many bands sound the same or very much alike. You get a mix of storytelling, folk, and a massive amount of metal but it’s all 100% brilliant.
When it comes to influences then there is some Manowar, and Amon Amarth (who are more death metal) (Rick here – I would also add Rage, Battle Beast and Beast In Black), however, Brothers of Metal have a much clearer and crisper vocal approach. ‘Hel’ is perfect proof of this with truly gruff vocals yet Ylva once again takes you from power singing the chorus to a solo vocal ending. It’s haunting, eerie, goose bump producing and the hairs on my arms stood on end…and ‘Chain Breaker’ is a thumper from the start and doesn’t give up, the lyrics, once again, taking you take you off to metal storyland, for example, “The leash could not domesticate, the violent beast within, and when the bane of Odin howls, the eternal night begins” They have such enthusiasm and passion for their music and that comes through time and time again.
On Brothers of Metal Facebook page they say “Wimps and posers beware, for true metal is here” (surely a cheeky nod to Manowar) and saying that their little quirks had me laughing in the track ‘Theft Of The Hammer’, which is a belter but also includes the line “Give it back at once you thief or I’ll go tell my dad” and the reference to ‘Hammer Time’ which was a great add, well done to you guys for that one. They may be passionate and have produced an absolutely wonderful album but moments like these prove they aren’t afraid to poke fun at themselves as well!
TRACKLISTING:
01. Brood Of The Trickster
02. Powersnake
03. Hel
04. Chain Breaker
05. Kauaz Dagaz
06. Theft Of The Hammer
07. Weaver Of Fate
08. Njord
09. Emblas Saga
10. Brothers Unite
11. One
12. Ride Of The Valkyries
13. To The Skies And Beyond
LINKS:
www.facebook.com/brothersofmetalofficial/
www.instagram.com/brothersofmetalofficial/
www.spotify.com/artist/0WPCPYm5IDNtQjuJOGNPcy
www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTRADohcFt4lKeVrd0Kuxg
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Tsarina Wilson and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.