Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 02:50 PM by Nikos Nakos
Genre: Heavy/Power/Epic
Country: U.S.A.
Label: High Roller Records
Year: 2024
It’s one of the weirdest moments for a music journalist to write a couple of words or a review about an album so controversial as if it is born to divide people. But damn there is something even weirdest when we talk about the new Warlord’s album; most people have decide to like it or not without even hearing a single not of it. You can read an excellent interview on Forgotten Scroll by Chris Papadakis where Mark Zonder and Giles Lavery talks on how and why they decide to keep Warlord alive after Tsamis’ death and no matter if they can convince you about their intentions you can still give the album a small chance…Trust me.
https://www.forgotten-scroll.net/metal-interviews/warlord2023/
“Free Spirit Soar” is actually a careful attempt on making an album based on unfinished songs, reworking ideas, themes and demos, while also completing the work of Tsamis (something almost impossible to do) plus two re-recorded Lordian Guard classics and reworked versions of chosen/beloved songs from Warlord’s early years. And all that without giving the sense of a compilation or a rare stuff compilation but a proper full length.
Warlord are now Mark Zonder -founding member-, singer Giles Lavery the latter of Damiens, Alcatrazz keyboardist Jimmy Waldo, bassist Philip Bynoe, and guitarist Eric Juris. “Behold a Pale Horse,” “Worms of the Earth,” and the title track, are totally awesome and honestly can look the legendary classic hymns from the past straight into the eyes. Not all songs are instant classics, still tracks like “Conquerors” and “The Rider” have the spirit of Bill Tsamis and proudly deliver some of his vision even after his death. Probably the album has some closer to (euro) Power than to Epic/Heavy parts or hints here and there, but the final result has a positive sign. Furthermore some guitars here are marvelous (all Tsamis demo work indeed) and having the ability to improve exhilaration to the listener especially if we speak about a Warlord/ Lordian Guard fanatic or something. Last but not least the crystal clear production that helps all instruments to shine with its warm organic sound.
At least hear it before you judge it as an album…even though I can name several bands that continued without their ‘totem’ or after it’s death, still I understand those who don’t give a damn about the new Warlord or any band that had a similar choice made sometime during in its course.
