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All Hail, Markus Sigfridsson!

This week, we are going to take a look at two albums masterminded by Markus Sigfridsson - guitarist, artist, songwriter, bandleader. Markus lives and breathes melodic metal, and he is able to move between power, symphonic, and progressive metal with ease. He also creates the artwork for his projects, as well as for other bands (Tenement Design). I believe that Markus has a bight future in metal, and that with time, he will become an innovator once he pushes past his influences including Yngwie Malmsteen and Veni Domine.


Harmony

• "Prevail" kicks off the album with a fast-paced rocker. Markus writes some really interesting riffs, and Magnus Holmberg's keyboard playing is a nice counter to the guitar, and he gets a cool keyboard solo about 3 minutes into the song . Whereas some neo-classical bands have the keyboards merely doubling the guitar parts, Harmony achieves nice layering with the guitar and keyboards playing complimenting each other instead of merely echoing each other. I also like the piano at the end, and it sounds like a real piano, not just a keyboard sound.
• "Kingdom" has an atmospheric synthesizer into that introduces a melodic theme that will be repeated throughout the song. The airy intro makes the guitars sound more aggressive when they kick in. Markus knows how create atmosphere in the songs and build in layers. Tempo changes are also used effectively to build the song. If the songs weren't so straight-forward, you would think you were listening to a progressive rock band. I really like the vocals on this track. Henrik Båth has a very smooth delivery, but he adds grit where needed in the verses. He soars without effort in the choruses.
  
• "Weak" begins with a short piano intro, and then the band kicks in with double bass drumming intensity. The piano figure is completed, and Markus shreds a little on guitar. Listening to Harmony is never boring. I find myself going back to the songs to pick out bits of instrumentation that I missed the first time. There is a real chemistry between Markus and Magnus.
• "I Run" reminds me of the great slower tempo Yngwie tracks like "I Am A Viking," "Devil In Disguise," and "How Many Miles to Babylon." The song has great atmosphere, and the slow pace gives the song a needed heaviness to compliment the lyrics.

4 Swords Up (out of 5)!

7 Days

The Weight of the World (2006)

Rivel Records

Band

• Markus Sigfridsson (Guitars, Keyboards)
• Thomas Vikström (Vocals)
• Andreas Olsson (Bass)
• Daniel Flores (Drums)
• Caroline Sigfridsson (guest vocals on "Fall Again")
• Kaspar Dahlqvist (Keyboard Solos)
  

Overview

7 Days is Markus's symphonic metal side-project. It features the vocals of Thomas Vikström (ex-Candlemass and Brazen Abbot). With this release, Markus enters an already c rowded genre, competing with Nightwish, Stream of Passion, Epica, After Forever, etc. The Weight of the World holds its own and offers a few suprises.

Featured Songs

• "Fall Again" is the highlight of the album. Caroline Sigfridsson's voice is very warm and inviting, a contrast to the rather cold vocals of many female singers in this genre. Her vocal interplay with Thomas Vikström is very enjoyable. It's nice to hear a due t between a male and female in this genre without the male vocal being a death metal grunt. I could listen to this song on repeat all day.
  
• "Redeemer" is one of the few fast-paced songs on the album and has a Harmony feel to it and would not be out of place on Chapter II: The Aftermath. I really like the guitar lead Markus plays on the intro., and I tend to prefer Thomas Vikström's vocals over those of Henrik Båth (vocalist in Harmony). He has a little more warmth and depth in his voice. He also has an icredible vibratto which is important to this genre. My only criticism for Vikström is that his voice gets thin in the top range.
  
• "The Darkest Winter" has a doom metal feel to it, reminiscent of Vikström's former b and, Candlemass. The highlight of the song is the outtro which features Vikström's vocals over acoustic guitar. I wish there had been more of this o n the CD.
  
• "Wisdom Calls" is a cover of the Veni Domine classic. It's another doomy sounding song, and I like the clean guitar in the verses. It's nice to hear picked notes and not just strumming.
• "Confession" is another faster-paced song and is a great song, but it is very Yngwie-esque. In fact, it wouldn't be out of place on his Eclipse album. I like Vikström's vocal melodies here.
  

Lyrics
The darker side of spirituality is explored on The Weight of the World. Where Markus focsued on spiritual warfare for his power metal project, Harmony, he was able to tap into appropriate material for the more doomy, symphonic metal of 7 Days. Both 7 Days and Harmony have overtly Christian lyrics, and that must be stated. Beyond that, the lyrics aren't forced or cheesy, if not overly original.

Conclusion
I really enjoy listening to 7 Days. There is definitely repeat play value here, but as with Harmony, Markus really brings nothing new to the genre he is playing in. That said, it is a fine example of symphonic metal with doom and goth influences.

4 Swords Up (out of 5)!

Power Quest

• "Cemetary Gates" is a great opening song. It's a face-paced, fairly straight-forward metal song with a keyboard riff that pays homage to Kevin Moore's Images and Words keyboard sound. This is Power Quest's weakness. The keyboard sound and simple song structure are rehashes of late 80's to early 90's prog metal. This is the era when Queensryche and Fates Warning, among others, were producing very commercial, less ground-breaking material. The chorus is very catchy though, and this song has found its way onto my current power metal mix.
• "Human Machine" is again dominated by a keyboard riff. The problem is, the riff isn't very catchy. I really liked European bands like Pretty Maids and Europe who used keyboard riffs as hooks in the 80's, but that's not what is going on here. The keyboard riff is used as a rhythm track, but it is so dominate in the mix, it makes the song sound soft. The keyboards are just too overbearing.
• "Civilised" has that same Images And Words keyboard sound. Steve Williams has chops for days, and he is a co-founder, but the keyboards are just too intrusive. Maybe the fault lies in the mix. Whatever the case, it is
• "Kings Of Eternity" is what I've been waiting for. There is some nice guitar riffage, the keyboard is tasteful and complimentary to the rest of the track, and there is a nice vocal hook. I wouldn't say that AlessioGaravello is a powerful vocalist, but he does have good control and comes up with some catchy vocal lines.
• "Master Of Illusion," as the title track, needs to pack a punch, and it does. The keyboards on this track blend with the rest of the band a lot better here. The synthesizer sounds give added layers of depth to the song as well. Now, this is the kind of keyboards I like to hear in a melodic metal band.
• "The Vigil" is an interesting track. I mentioned Pretty Maids earlier in this review. I will return to that band now, because Allesio does his best Ronnie Atkins impersonation on this track. He alternates between higher, melodic vocals and a lower growl throughout the song. The problem is, he isn't as convincing as Ronnie. Musically, the song is another straight-forward, melodic metal song. There's a nice double drum work up to a catchy chorus.
• "Save The World" slows things down and has some nice guitar leads. It's not a ballad, exactly, but it does have a moody vibe and is a nice change of pace for the album
• "Hearts And Vocies" is a melodic rock track. I'm not a big fan of melodic rock, so I would probably skip this one more times than not. It's a mid-paced rock song with a decent chorus.
• "I Don't Believe In Friends Forever" is a real disappointment. Musically, it's a great track with some interesting drumming and a nice opening guitar passage. The problem begins with the vocals. It's almost like Allesio is singing to a different instrumental track. The lyrics are also pretty horrible.
• "Never Again" is the album closer. There should have been five more of these. It's a face-paced song with some nice vocal harmonies. While the Images And Words keyboards are back, they are more restrained. This is a great road song and a good closer for the album.

Lyrics
I was struck with how positive and happy the lyrics are. They are definitely in the "Happy Helloween" camp when it comes to lyrical influence. I really like the fantasy imagery throughout the album, and the struggle between good and evil is explored on several tracks. The only lame song on the album lyrically is "I Don't Believe In Friends Forever."

Conclusion

If you love keyboards, this is the album for you. While there are some good moments on this album, I was largely disappointed in Master of Illusions as a whole. I can't help but feel that this band is capable of more than just rehashing 80's melodic metal. As I listen to the album, I keep flashing back to Pretty Maids, Fifth Angel, and Vicious Rumors with Dream Theater keyboards. While Dragonforce brought power metal into the 21st century, Power Quest is stuck firmly in the late 80's. While there was some great music made during that period, I still have those albums on my shelf. I want to hear something new.

3 Swords Up (out of 5)!

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Demon Hunter

Storm The Gates Of Hell (2007)

Solid State

Band

• Ryan Clark – Vocals
• Jon Dunn – Bass Guitar
• Don Clark – Rhythm Guitar
• Ethan Luck – Lead Guitar Backing Vocals
• Timothy "Yogi" Watts – Drums

While I am a power and prog metal warrior, there comes a time when an album from another genre deserves some respect, especially when it embraces the warrior spirit. This review is for all of the hunters out there. We are brothers in arms!

Overview
Demon Hunter is a melodic metalcore band with thrash and classic metal influences. Storm the Gates of Hell is their fourth and best album.

Featured Songs

• "Storm The Gates Of Hell" is like a blast from a cannon. Blastbeat drumming propels this trash workout, and Ryan Clark's growling vocals spit out some great battle lyrics. This song will make you want to slay demons.
• "Lead Us Home" keeps the momentum going. Yogi is a beast on the drumkit. There is a great chorus that has a real power metal feel to it. The "clean" vocals on this CD are among the best the band has recorded.
  
• "Sixteen" is my personal favorite song on the album. First, strings and metal are meant for each other, and strings play a prominent role in the intro, chorus, and bridge of the song, giving it an epic feel. There is also a ridiculously heavy breakdown made for the mosh pit. The song shifts from thrash, to hardcore, to cinematic, all in 5 minutes. Plus, there are guest vocals by legendary vocalist Bruce Fitzhugh of Living Sacrifice.
• "I Am You" is probably the catchiest song on the album. This is a song that should appeal to all fans of melodic metal. There is still growls and tuned down guitars, but the vocal hooks in the song are undeniable.
• "The Wrath of God" explodes out of the speakers. It's brutal which appeals to the warrior in me, but the band uses melody in a way that appeals to the
  power metal side of me as well.

Lyrics

If anything, Demon Hunter continues to explore the warrior heart even deeper on this album. Each song examines the battle we face against Satan and his kingdom. There is encouragement for every warrior and hunter to remain resolute in service to the true King.

Conclusion

This album is not for everybody that reads this blog. It is not power or prog, but it does have incredible melodic moments and interesting song structures that go beyond verse, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus.

Post Script
I met Yogi Watts when he was drummer in the 90's band Rocketboy (R.E.X. Records). Our bands played together on a bill, and we were unsigned. He was cool and hung out with us. We met up again at a P.O.D. show in the late 90's (when they were still indie), and we watched the show together. A lot of musicians in signed bands become unapproachable, but Yogi is a true warrior. It's good to see him live out the dream as a professional musician in a successful band.

4 Swords Up (out of 5)!

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Alestorm

Leviathan EP (2009)

Napalm Records

Band

• Christopher Bowes - Vocals and Keyboards
• Dani Evans - Guitars
• Gareth Murdock - Bass
• Ian Wilson - Drums

Overview

Alestorm is pirate metal. This EP contains power metal songs about pirates, quests, drinking ale, a mythical beast and women. This EP follows their debut album, Captain Morgan's Revenge, which was also had power metal songs about pirates quests, drinking, mythical beasts, and women. Get the picture?

Songs

1. "Leviathan" begins with the sound of the sea, followed by fast-paced metal riffing by Bowes and Evans. Whereas the keyboards on the Power Quest album, reviewed above, were overbearing, the mix between instruments here is perfect. All of the string and folk instrument sounds are provided by keyboards and create an epic atmosphere for the tale of a ship and its crew's encounter with the mighty leviathan. The pirtate gang vocals before the guitar and keyboard solos are inspired.
   
2. "Wolves Of The Sea" is a cover song, originally by, appropriately enough, The Pirates of the Sea. The song was a Eurovision Song Contest entry in 2008. This song has even better gang vocals. It is my firm belief that every pirate metal song should have gang vocals. Speaking of vocals, Bowes never breaks character vocally as a pirate. While it limits his range, who cares. This is pirate metal!
3. "Weiber Und Wein" is a German translation of the band's featured song, "Wenches And Mead," from their full-length. This song is your basic pub sing-along on steroids. And sung in German. Awesome.
4. "Heavy Metal Pirates" is a recent single by the band. I believe this song goes back to their Battleheart days, and it's a great novelty song, but it's not among the band's best. Still, it's pirate metal!
   

Lyrics
Listening to Alestorm is the musical equivalent of watching Pirates of the Caribean or reading Treasure Island. In other words, it's a lot of fun. They are definitely using parody, but the music is so good, they don't feel like a novelty act (except on "Heavy Metal Pirates"). If you can't draw the line between fiction and reality, Alestorm is not for you. You will miss out on one of the few bands in power metal that write really interesting narrative lyrics though. Many bands try, but Alestorm succeeds in enteraining lyrically as well as musically and stylistically.

Conclusion
Leviathan is a continuation of their full-length, Captain Morgan's Revenge. If you like metal, and you wish you were a pirate sailing the seas in the 18th century, you couldn't ask for a more perfect soundtrack. The only negative is that, while the music is epic and suits the storylines of the songs, the riffs and solos are a little generic. Unfortunately, you only get two new tracks on the EP. I would suggest that you just download, legally, the two new songs if you already have the "Heavy Metal Pirates" single or you speak German (or wish you did).

3 Swords Up (out of 5)!

In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day
Mark Batterson
Multnomah Books

This book offers a philosophy for life through the study of a warrior named Benaiah.

We get this description of the mighty warrior from the Hebrew Bible: "And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow: And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear." II Samuel 23:20-21

Benaiah went on to command the armed forces of King David, the greatest king to rule in Israel's long, turbulent history. Under King David, and his son Solomon, Israel knew it's greatest peace and prosperity. Every king needs mighty warriors under his command, and in Benaiah, King David found a kindred spirit. After all, King David had killed lions and tigers in his youth while shepherding his father's flocks, and King David rose to fame in Israel after slaying the giant Philistine, Goliath, and cutting his head off with his own sword.

Mark Batterson shows how adversity often prepares us for future achievement, much like a warrior trains for battle. He also points out that a life lived for the King is one of adventure and uncertainty. You never know what obstacle you will face next, and often the reward you receive for being a faithful follower is much more glorious than you ever imagined.

Life is an epic romance, filled with twists and turns. It's a quest, and on a quest, you need the fellowship of like-minded warrior. King David surrouned himself with mighty men including Benaiah. We would be wise to do the same.

Conclusion
The book has a lot of good, practical advice, but it is lacking the passion and voice of authors like John Eldredge and Ted Dekker who write about the same topics with more vigor. Still, the life of a great warrior is always worth investigating.

Theocracy

1. "A Tower Of Ashes" kicks off the album with a majestic keyboard intro followed by a double time scorcher. The band shows it is a brotherhood on this album, playing in precision lockstep throughout the song. The layered vocals of the chorus all come together to form a massive vocal hook that will stay in your head for weeks to come.
   
2. "One Eagles' Wings" is next, and their is some nice axe wielding on this song between the verses. The layered vocals are back in the chorus, reminding me of classic TNT. This is a battle hymn to the King, and it's an energetic, driving track.
3. "Laying The Demon To Rest" starts off with a fairly generic guitar riff, but the drumming propels the song along. Abruptly, there is a keyboard break, and Matt Smith begins to sing in an ominous tone. This sets up a galloping section and chorus that reminds me of The Warning era Queensryche. The lyrics are strong on this song, with some nice battle imagery.
4. "Bethlehem" begins with a nice, acoustic intro. The acoustic instrumentation, along with the vocal delivery, are very medieval. Fans of Blind Guardian will appreciate this track. It is the ballad of the album and is a nice change of pace from the double time drumming.
5. Don't worry though, because on "Absolution Day," the band is back firing away on all cylinders. It's a great power metal song with some nice guitar and another big chorus to sing along to.
6. "Writing In The Sand" has a killer baroque organ intro. This is a more straight-forward, classic metal song. It's mid-tempo throughout, and there's another big chorus. This band knows how to deliver choruses!
7. "Martyr" speeds things up again. I like the opening guitar riff. It's not anything fancy, but it's catchy, and that's really the strength of this band. Everything, every guitar riff and vocal, is catchy. There's enough hooks to catch fish for days.
8. "Mirror Of Souls" is the prog track on the album. Clocking in at just under 23 minutes, the band revisits all of the sonic landscapes previously heard on the album and smashes them together into an epic album closer.

Conclusion

The band definitely salutes their influences on this album, and not much of it is truly original, but Mirror of Souls delivers what few power metal bands achieve - a consistent album from start to finish. I eagerly await their future releases which should see them develop more of a unique voice. Each song has at least one hook that will stick with you long after the album is over. The album is largely fast-paced, but there are a few slow and mid-paced songs to even out the listening experience. It is about as perfect as a power metal album can get. One drawback for some listeners may be that the band never really strays from heavy Christian imagery in their lyrics, but do not fear. Theocracy delivers lyrics that are as passionate and inspiring as any in the genre. Battle hymns? I couldn't think of a better description.

4 Swords Up (out of 5)!