Artist: Sumerlands
Country: USA
Label: Relapse Records
Formats: LP / Cassette tape / CD
Year: 2022
I can’t deny a bit of scepticism when I first heard of a new Sumerlands record. Not because the debut was bad. On the contrary, it was quite a stunning release that caught me off guard, even though I had already come in with high hopes after being led to the band by the phenomenal Eternal Champion. It was the departure of vocalist Phil Swanson, who previously had contributed to some excellent acts that included Hour of 13, Atlantean Kodex and Vestal Claret, that made me wary of what to expect. Even though the recruitment of new vocalist Brendan Radigan, currently in Pagan Altar, was promising, the first preview track didn’t quite manage to convince me instantly. So, with a dose of reservation I went into the latest album ‘Dreamkiller’, which then took away all my fear and doubt and has replaced it with utmost conviction.
That ‘Dreamkiller’ sounds a little bit different than ‘Sumerlands’ is not just because of the change of vocalists, even though both employ a somewhat nasal style fitting with the likes of Ozzy, former Pagan Altar vocalist Terry Jones and Warning / 40 Watt Sun’s Patrick Walker. Stylistically the latest Sumerlands album also takes a slightly different approach. Where the debut album was strictly rooted in traditional Heavy Metal, ‘Dreamkiller’ infuses a little bit more of an 80’s Hardrock sound as well, combining the best of Judas Priest, Ozzy (including Randy Rhoads like riffs) and Dio’s early solo albums with the likes of Europe. Hints of 70’s acts like Deep Purple and Black Sabbath aren’t far away either. Comparing them to artists and albums known for their timelessness, Sumerlands does a downright stunning job to convey the same feeling some 40 years later, adding a more modern and flashy technical Heavy Metal guitar take to make it sound both authentic and incredibly fresh.
‘Dreamkiller’ is a thoroughly catchy album. I can see that at the time I maybe wasn’t quite ready for the more Hardrock sound of ‘Heaven’s Above’ when it first appeared ahead of the album. But how I wasn’t completely enamored by the pacey title track when it was previewed is beyond me. I recollect that the turning point was the release of ‘Edge of a Knife’, a song so catchy and full of guitar wizardry that it’s impossible not to love or to forget. Essentially, once the album clicks it’s one big thrilling and rocking ride. A ride starting with the uptempo highlight ‘Twilight Points the Way’ through the almost ballad-like ‘Night Ride’, past the sensational ‘Edge of a Knife’ and fantastic vocals of ‘Force of a Storm’ all the way to the solo-laden ‘Death to Mercy’ ends the album on a high note. In case it’s not clear yet, ‘Dreamkiller’ is a fantastic record, authentic yet very actual and fresh, and I can’t recommend it enough!
