| Magazine |
Review of |
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| TheMetalReporter.net |
Wearing a Martyr's Crown |
9/10 |
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The Metal Reporter
Let me start off by saying, in today"s Melodic Death Metal scene, a big chunk is moving towards modernizing they"re music by making it more accessible and softening the brutality. Nightrage decided to take a step forward in their own path, ignoring the hordes of douche bags attempting to turn Melodic Death Metal into Metalcore. If "A New Disease Is Born" was the band"s experimental album, where they drifted into a more "modern" sound, then "Wearing A Martyr"s Crown" is the band"s return to form, with a completely fresh formula. Think of the melody from "Sweet Vengeance" mixed in with the brutality of "Decent Into Chaos" with a completely fresh approach towards song writing and you"ll get "Wearing A Martyr"s Crown".
First of all, Marios will never cease to amaze me when it comes to crafting TRULY melodic death metal music, songs like "A Grim Struggle" will hit you with an addictive riff, along with powerful pounding drums, while new front man Antony Hamalainen will crush your bones with nothing less then straight up growls, from the glory days of the genre (A young Tomas Lindberg, with a whole lotta energy) the way Antony introduces the listener to the album on opening track "Shed The Blood" is the "Melodic Death Metal Way To Do It !"
Acoustic work on the album is as usual top notch, the bass is ripping it apart in the mix, Anders really kicks alot of ass on his bass lines, while Olof gives the extra edge the Nightrage sound needs.
The album"s title track, and "Wounded Angels" will suffice any old school Nightrage fan, its got the mind blowing fast guitar work, along with drums that will turn you to dust, courtesy of young Jo Nunez (the dude"s only 21, and he"s already destroying the drums on the album)
"Wearing A Martyr"s Crown" see"s the debut of an entirely new line-up in the band, with new commers Antony Hämäläinen (Vocals), Olof Morck (Guitars), Anders Hammer (Bass), and Jo Nunez (Drums) joining founding member Marios Iliopoulos, to complete one hell of a line up. Gus G. makes a surprise guest appearance on the instrumental track "Sting Of Remorse"
Songs like "Mocking Modesty", "Abandon" and "Futile Tears" will beat the living shit out of you with its perfect balance of melody transcending into brutality, "Mocking Modesty" also has Rotting Christ"s Sakis Tolis ripping up the mic along with Antony.
In conclusion "Wearing A Martyr"s Crown" is a classic Nightrage release, freshly sealed.
If your looking for a top notch "Gothenburg" metal album, then with no doubt go right ahead and pre-order your copy now. This is an album recommended for all Melodic Death Metal fans, and for fans of straight up good metal in general.
Favorite songs so far: "Shed The Blood", "A Grim Struggle", "Among Wolves", "Mocking Modesty" "Wounded Angels" and "Futile Tears"
I give "Wearing A Martyr"s Crown" a 9/10.
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