Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 06:26 PM by Giorgos Tsekas
Genre: Heavy Metal
Country: U.S.A.
Label: Relapse Records
Year: 2016
Sumerlands is a quintet from Philadelphia, U.S., that those who like American Heavy Metal from the golden period of the ’80s should hurry up and check them out immediately. In the band’s lineup, singer Phil Swanson stands out, who most probably recognize as the singer of the split EP of Atlantean Kodex with Vestal Claret, “The Hidden Folk” from 2007 and the producer of the Inquisition and Power Trip, Arthur Rizk, that here plays guitar and keyboards. The cover was designed by the famous Jos. A. Smith, the man responsible for the creation of the goat of Bathory, one of the most iconic symbols of extreme music. Well up to this point everything is going well, the artwork, the label, the great member’s resume but musically do they have something to say? Therein lies the essence then. And while they do not offer anything innovative or groundbreaking, however Sumerlands sounds very fresh and interesting. Yes, as I previously said, their influences are not hiding and Helstar, Savatage and mainly Metal Church and Ozzy Osbourne (period from 1983 to 1986 and I refer to the guitars rather than the way that Swanson sings) elements and loans are more than evident. But all 8 songs are really good with the opening track “Seventh Steal” and “Lost In Mind” to steal the show. The strong point of the album is the impressive guitarwork, which although is based upon simplistic ideas, they sound accurate and quite melodic, but also the vocal lines that are well written and they mostly lead the compositions having the guitar lines as a background that enhances the melody, in such a way so as not to remove the heavy element of the songs. A very good debut, there is also a 2014 demo, which marginally can get surpisingly to the 12 best of the year. Last year would have been certainly entered, this year … soon we will know…
4/6
