One of my favorite Italian bands aside from early Death SS or Bulldozer has to be DoomSword and its potent brand of doom metal in the grandiose epic vein. The mainline, yet storytelling aspect of DoomSword is what makes this band a cut above the norm.

I admit my favorite album from these guys is 2003’s Let Battle Commence, but the recent release titled The Eternal Battle might just replace that album sooner than I think. Every album by this band has been a winner of unpretentious design, leaving DoomSword on the ambiguous line of underground gem and underrated secret. Either way, those lucky enough to know the band and its history from great doomy or traditional metal know what to expect. The mythological slant to the band’s lyrical output hasn’t wavered, and the ever-fine border between Viking metal and typical heavy metal is still at the anorexic stage. Still, the consistent flow of the albums shows the care and dedication to the topic(s) at hand. “Soldier of Fortune” is my favorite track because it reads like a very early 80’s NWOBHM track that surpasses the typical single mark of three-minutes. The mid-paced music can easily be classified as typical down-tempo Sabbath-worship, but the Birmingham lads never had such a ‘large’ wall of sound, a virtual musical tapestry if you will. The main differences are the obvious ones in the production values, the overall Viking feel, and the use of atmosphere for effect and background.

DoomSword actually paints a very discernable picture of battling some ancient army or beast in its conceptual approach to the music. With the guitars mainlining power chords into your ears like a metal pusher his lethal ‘junk’, songs like “The Fulminant” and “Wrath of the Gods” are simply what make the genre exemplary and lasting well past the early 70’s prime. The lack of speed and over-the-top vocals is what keeps DoomSword above the cut. Deathmaster’s singing style is very soothing, even at his most bellowing, which isn’t overpowering or carnival-like. While not exactly Messiah in the booming verbiage, Deathstalker has an even tone that made records like Resound the Horn and My Name Will Live On so essential. The album ends with “WarLife”, which is a very somber-sounding descent, though it’s not exactly morose in the traditional sense. It just ends the battle accordingly, and it’s perfect.

DoomSword’s latest should be heard by the fan of doom, NWOBHM, traditional, even power metal genres. It’s the best of the mythological bands, no question there, and The Eternal Battle is a class album within its well-structured bounds.          

TRACK LISTING

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*Comments:

1.  Varusschlacht (Varus Battle)
2.  Eternal Battle
3.  Wrath of the Gods
4.  Soldier of Fortune
5.  Battle at the End of Time
6.  The Fulminant
7.  Song of the Black Sword
8.  The Time Has Come...
9.  WarLife

Total playing time:  43:11

Release Date: February 25, 2011
Label: Dragonheart Records

Reviewer: Chris

March 28, 2011

Doomsword - The Eternal Battle