SMOULDER
SMOULDER – “Violent Creed of Vengeance”
By Colonel Angus
The best thing about being a music fan, as opposed to a casual listener, is that we are not only exposed to a lot of music but much of it tends to be really good. SMOULDER is one of the recent bands that I has come across my radar that resonated with me. I do still purchase music at a local record store but I admit that much of my exposure comes from the internet. That being said, I would have totally taken a chance on “Violent Creed of Vengeance” strictly based on the Michael Whelan cover art. I love that fantasy, sword and sorcery imagery which fits perfectly with the music. I’m sure it’s no coincidence that the cover art shows two bad-ass women fighting off a horde since SMOULDER is fronted by a female who according to their press has “very pointed lyrics about taking revenge on misogynists and rapists”. It’s great to see a band put that much thought into the whole package of music and cover art. Since the advent of CDs, more and more bands dismiss the “wrapper” for their music when it still makes a difference to us, the record buying public. Now, even though you may not want to judge a book by its cover, this album delivers on both ends; musically and visually.
Right off the bat, the band delivers a title track that has all the fist pumping dynamics of a BLACK SABBATH meets IRON MAIDEN song. Sarah Ann, who prior to this release was unknown to me, possesses a great voice and puts in a powerful and emotional performance. I went back and listened to SMOULDER’s first record and she has improved upon that recording, which was really good already. I was expecting more of the same but the next track speeds up the tempo and goes more in a power metal direction. Guitarists Shon Vincent and Collin Wolf add some great guitar work on “The Talisman and the Blade” which reminds me a little of early MAIDEN. The energy of that tune (along with most of the record) really captures that NWOBHM sound but with a slightly updated feel. I say “slightly” updated because SMOULDER keep things very close to that traditional metal sound and don’t veer off too much from that template.
“Midnight in the Mirror World” is up next and it is one of three epic tracks on “Violent Creed of Vengeance”. Clocking in at almost seven minutes, I first thought it was an instrumental until the vocals kick in at almost the two minute mark. It also brushes off the speed metal of the previous tune and goes full on NWOTHM. Changing things up again, “Path of Witchery” is back to power metal and contains some nice speedy headbanging moments. Drummer Kevin Hester manages to find the right tempo for each of the tracks which helps the record from being one dimensional. I don’t know why I was expecting a whole record of tracks like the opening title song but as the disk progresses, I’m pleasantly surprised with the flow of the tracks. Each song is a story that stands on its own while still having a cohesive feel with the rest of the material. The album ends with three tracks that continue this musical saga with two of them making up the epics on “Violent Creed of Vengeance”. “Victims of Fate” has a number of twists and turns but still manages to gallop along in true NWOBHM style. The shortest song “Spellforger” is a quick romp through that same style and it gives way to the last tune “Dragonslayer's Doom” which is not only the longest, but it also the most cinematic piece on the record. It has a pounding SABBATH feel that incorporates some NWOBHM elements that remind me of DIAMOND HEAD. They even manage to put in a really cool bass and vocal section that only adds additional drama to this already epic track.
SMOULDER have certainly managed to come up with a record that is steeped in the sounds of traditional metal yet giving it a fresh coat of paint. There are many new bands that performing this traditional metal style and to be honest, most of them are really good. SMOULDER is one of those bands and I can guarantee you that “Violent Creed of Vengeance” will be in my playlist for quite some time.