SpellBlast - Battlecry

Release Date: April 23, 2010
Label: Fuel Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Cold Wind of Death
2.  Drinkin' with the Gods
3.  History of a Siege - Heroes
4.  Path on the Sea
5.  Ragnarok (Dream of the End)
6.  Soldier's Angels
7.  Raid Day
8.  History of a Siege - Slaughter
9.  Northern Star
10.  Brave and Fierce
11.  Command Charge
12.  Battlecry

Total playing time: 45:53

November 1, 2010

Reviewer: The Stream

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*Comments:

Fans of folk-influenced power metal will be delighted to hear that SpellBlast, an Italian outfit hailing from Bergamo, have recently released Battlecry, their second full-length record. The album came out earlier this year on Fuel Records, an independent Italian label. International distribution has yet to be secured, so getting your hands on this album might be a bit of a challenge. If you’re able to obtain a copy you are definitely in for an epic journey through medieval battlefields.

It’s not easy to draw musical parallels to Battlecry. As far as epic Italian power metal goes, SpellBlast definitely exhibits many of the characteristics that bands like Ancestral and Rhapsody of Fire do. What differentiates SpellBlast is their use of folk instruments such as bagpipes, accordions, and fiddles. Although the folk influence is prominent, the use of these traditional instruments is not necessarily overdone. One could compare this album to an earlier release from Turisas, who exhibit many similarities.

SpellBlast’s 2007 release, Horns of Silence is quite a unique and entertaining piece of Italian power metal. Battlecry is the product of a more mature lineup and shows off a more refined, well rehearsed band. Clear advances can be seen on the musical side. The album opens in true epic fashion with the triumphant-sounding “Cold Wind of Death,” which features some fine double bass work, courtesy of percussionist Edo, as well as a fiddle-driven melody. Other tracks such as “Ragnarok: Dream of the End” and “Soldiers Angels” exhibit varied time signatures, key signatures, and musical styles. The production of Battlecry is truly impressive, as it was recorded entirely at New Sin Studios with the expertise of Luigi Stefanini, a name known to most Italian power metallers.

Riffs are heavy and crunchy, yet not overly complex throughout Battlecry, which effectively allows room for the folk elements of the tracks. Not every track contains a guitar solo, but those that do, including “Path on the Sea,” are very well executed and contain several pinch harmonics and sweep-picking technique. Guitarists Luca Arzuffi and Claudio Arsuffi, who also arranged a good portion of the tracks on this release, are both skilled musicians.

One notable cameo on Battlecry is that of Fabio Lione, of Rhapsody of Fire fame, on the “History of a Siege” tracks, which are a double feature of sorts. Spagnuolo’s operatic style is very similar to Lione’s, while Lione’s upper octaves make these tracks among the most memorable of the album.

On the topic of Fabio Lione, Battlecry is typical of Italian power metal in that most of the vocals feature a heavy accent, as well as many mispronounced English words. These elements have been and continue to be characteristic of Lione’s work as well as of most of the power metal coming out of Italy.

Lyrically, several songs on this album contain grammatically incorrect/awkward phrases. Especially notable is the opening verse of “Command Charge”:






The lyrics and the accent that they are sung in are not necessarily weak points of this album. Awkwardly written English lyrics and the mispronunciation of said lyrics have been the norm in Italian power metal for the past 10+ years. One could argue that the level of English proficiency in the lyrics adds character to the music! 

One of my favorite tracks on this release is “Brave and Fierce,” a full-speed-ahead epic power metal track that brings back memories of Rhapsody of Fire during the Dawn of Victory era. Although clocking in at under 3 minutes, this expertly arranged track contains a series of call-and-response guitar and accordion solos at the end.

Battlecry is a unique, expertly produced work of folk power metal. It contains all of the elements that comprise a great power metal album, as well as the added bonus of traditional instruments and realistic battlefield sound effects. SpellBlast has definitely matured since Horns of Silence was released and this album is easily one of the strongest melodic power metal releases I have heard thus far in 2010.

It’s kind of sad that a larger record label hasn’t caught wind of SpellBlast yet. Hopefully they will be presented the opportunity to tour with a more popular band in the near future. Regardless of their method of achieving publicity, this up and coming power metal band definitely deserves more attention.

TO THE TOP

Marching frozen between this mountains
We seek growlin’ monster
The cold embrace of this
Curse isle is tightening more and more