Personally when a band sings about real world things, that tends to get me to check out that the act is about. Pair that with some personal favorite elements and the urge to listen to the album begins to go into overdrive.
Since 2009, Italy’s Wind Rose, have been cranking out albums and metal tunes. This, their third album, Stonehymn, takes on the elements of epicness, folk and symphonics to create an interesting journey from start to end. While listening to the album I couldn’t help but think of bands like Turisas, Fintroll, Orden Ogan, Eluveitie, Ensiferum and just that whole folk/pagan sound that’s grown into my heart all these years. What are these real world things the band sings about? Cowboys, Indians, battles, fighting and while it may sound a little out there, we suggest checking out the instrumentals at least. This is the group’s third album which was released not too long ago back in May.
You know things are going to get epic with an opening track titled, Distant Battlefields. An instrumental just shy of two-minutes, it get’s full on metal, guns ablazing in Dance of Fire. Deeply influenced by the European pagan metal scene, the gang vocals create a big picture atmosphere as the track starts to get climactic later on with lots of double bass and great riffing. To Erebor, has some hints of old-school Equilibrium to it and comes at you with lots of aggression and energy. The melodic aspect to this one is on the memorable scale as well.
[tube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qF1EQXIG1c[/tube]
The Returning Race is perfect for the headbangers out there. Very much in the style of Ensiferum and Turisas, it starts out a little slow and ambient but out of nowhere a surge of metal energy bursts in. The song being over seven minutes, it gets pretty epic as well and has a victorious ege to it. The Wolves’ Call is more on the power metal side. You’ll hear some great triplets from the double bass initially to an eventual shift to a galloping atmosphere from both the guitars and drums. The lyrical content also pushes the track into a triumphant sound. The Eyes of the Mountain, had me thinking of old school Sonata Arctica. There’s an obvious presence of keyboards with this last trip in addition to some wind instruments and horns and an occasional bass drop with some great soaring clean yet deep vocals. Raise your beer mugs and metal fists with the final chapter on this epic album.
Simply put, if you’re a fan of a few, if not all of some of the familiar names these guys reminded me of, then you’ll no doubt find allegiance with this release from the Italian metallers, Wind Rose. The vast amount of familiar elements should easily draw fans in. There was nothing really new that differentiates this album/band to the competition. Similiarly, the album is pretty much on par with what’s out there currently so there will certainly be a good chance your time won’t be wasted here. Another solid release, another new name in metal. Stay Metal m/
Official Website: http://www.windroseofficial.com/index.php
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/windroseofficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/windroseband
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