Released on: 24th January (US)
Named after the unrequited love between an autophile and his gundam (a giant robot) Brothers of Metal are Swedens’ freshest dairy export. And on their second album too. Offering a new batch of mild yet aromatic cheesy symphonic tunes with Emblas Saga. Which if high fantasy rock concept albums were actually dairy could be snacked on happily while crunching dwarf bread baked deep in the magma fed flames of some heavy metal mountain forge.
Emblas Saga has a lot more substance than just the illustrious legend it tells through rhyme and rock, and cheese. But with eight members co-ordinating to craft tales through the art of music you would be remiss for thinking any less because the list of fantastic hooks, riffs and layers ridden on this album conspiring to grab your attention and drag it to Hel is unrelenting. Marry that with addictive inflections rolling on from the most dramatic cadences it distills into a wild jiggery-reverie. And it is very amiable towards the old ears.
While this is only the groups second album they have been together for around eight years and their experience shows, especially in the cohesive song writing. Where they deliver a very refined and concise collection of well polished songs; Pop inspired, neo-folk defined. With the structure of the songs demonstrating a conscientious approach towards the composition of the tales Brothers of Metal tell.
Thirteen tracks of metal embellished with orchestration, and with a medieval twist that will lift up the spirits from the afore mentioned Hel and kickstart any heavy headed wind farm. Emblas Saga is a tale told with finesse. And a fun journey with, at times, campy lyrics. That when you hear it will have you chanting Chain Breaker, amongst others, with your best power pose. Now excuse me as I go tell my Dad.
9/10
