Thunderforge comes from the US and plays
power metal, and just recently released their debut EP “Call of the Conqueror”.
Now that we’re out of the 1980s, power metal from the US isn’t limited to
sounding like USPM, as there are more than a handful of bands playing the more
melodic European style despite being American. In Thunderforge’s case, they toe
the line between the two subgenres, playing a convincing blend of sounds that
should appeal to fans of either style. This is accomplished by bringing the
riffs of USPM, but the leads and melodies of more melodic power metal. Add in a
singer who is virtuosic without having a ridiculously high-pitched voice, and
you’ve got a combination that should please both sides of the fence.
The band’s more aggressive comes through on
“Harbringer” moreso than any other track. This song is filled to the brim with
heavy riffs that will stir up some movement in any crowd to which the band
plays. The final seconds of the song erupt into a wildly thrashy section, which
shows some untapped potential for the band to explore on future releases. Other
tracks, like “Raiders of the Night” and "Sound the Horns" utilize the ever-so common galloping and charging pace of a
band like Omen, but still manage to intertwine tons of melody. Fans of both
styles will be happy to know that shredding is in full force here: though not a
constant barrage of solos, the lead work on “Call of the Conqueror” is both
frenetic and dazzling.
As good as this EP is, it does feel a bit
overlong at times. These 5 tracks run for nearly 30 minutes. There are
definitely some progressive undertones throughout the release (particularly on
the final two tracks), and one can’t help but feel that the more focused tracks
like “Raiders of the Night” and “Harbringer” come off as being stronger. There
is undoubtedly a crowd for the band’s lengthier, more involved material; it is
executed to perfection, but I’ve never been one for progressive music. Still, “Call
of the Conqueror” would be an impressive release for any band to call their
own, and given that this is just Thunderforge’s debut, it shows a lot of
promise for the future!
Highlights
"Raiders of the Night"
"Harbringer"
Final Rating
4.0/5 or 80%.
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