Artist: Blazon Rite
Country: USA
Label: Gates Of Hell Records
Formats: LP / CD
Year: 2023
When the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal exploded in the 80s and conquered the world, not all bands were recognized equally. One such underrated band was Manilla Road. At times ridiculed by fans and peers alike, they never got the recognition they deserved for timeless classics such as ‘Crystal Logic’, ‘Open the Gates’ and ‘The Deluge’. In an ironic twist of fate, it is the very same band that can be considered as one of the main inspirations for the resurgence in the shape of the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal in the mid-2000s. Similarly, in recent years where one excellent True Heavy Metal band after the other surfaces, the Manilla Road influence remains undeniably audible. And such is certainly the case for the music of Philadelphia-based Blazon Rite.
On their second album, Blazon Rite deviates somewhat from the path set out on with the debut ‘Endless Halls of Golden Totem’. One obvious part is the synths, which while quite present on the debut have disappeared on ‘Wild Rites and Ancient Songs’. The mix is also a little bit updated, with the latest album sporting a slightly beefier sound that ultimately transfers the power of the music better than before. What has remained the same however is the musical path that follows the groundwork laid by Manilla Road, but also the Paul Di’Anno era Iron Maiden albums, The Lord Weird Slough Feg and Brocas Helm. Together with another relatively newer band like Visigoth, Blazon Rite walks the path of True Heavy Metal, epic and powerful with a raw undertone to the music. With typical prominent pulsing bass, catchy vocal lines, melodic leads and ever-pacing drums, opener ‘Autumn Fear Brings Winter Doom’ not only sets the tone, it also provides a perfect complement to the beautiful album cover that takes you back to the fantasy covers of the 80’s Heavy Metal scene. But above all, the hooky riffs, the adrenaline-inducing pace change and Maiden-esque sing-along qualities make it an instant album highlight.
What follows is a journey through Heavy Metal, where tracks such as ‘Salvage What You Can of the Night’ take you straight back to the late 70’s and early 80’s with its authentic Rock-rooted riffs and catchy vocal lines. The intro of ‘The Fall of a Once Great House’ has the same folkish ballad qualities as a band like Blind Guardian, before the song picks up a frenzied fistclenching pace. Of course double guitar harmonies can’t be left out, as the delightfully uptempo sing-along ‘Troubadours of the Final Quarrel’ expertly exemplifies. It’s impressive how vocalist Johnny Halladay’s warm tone carries softer passages just as well as the bold and powerful sections, especially when he battles it out with guitar melodies in for instance the title track. In fact, due to the these powerful vocals but also the music of Blazon Rite it seems more than a little bit appropriate to mention the resemblance with the Portuguese traditional Heavy Metal band Ironsword. With a production that combines with the somewhat sharp guitar sound, thumping bass and thundering drums, the album sounds incredibly authentic yet has this distinct feel of a genre rejuvenated. In that sense, much like Sumerland’s most recent album ‘Dreamkiller’ it manages to combine the best of both the old and the new.
‘Wild Rites and Ancient Songs’ embodies both the spirit of the current New Wave Of British True Heavy Metal as well as that of the heroes of old. As far as I’m concerned, it is quite an improvement from the debut and puts Blazon Rite right at the front of an impressive array of bands playing the genre. And with such a royal nod to Manilla Road, it feels like a tribute to, and another bit of redemption for one of the legendary acts of the genre.
