Thursday, November 23, 2023

SMOULDER - Violent Creed Of Vengeance review


 

SMOULDER - Violent Creed Of Vengeance

Cruz del Sur Music


Here we have the second album by Canada's SMOULDER. I really liked their debut, Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring, from 2019. After listening to this new one a few times it's obvious the sophomore jinx does not apply. SMOULDER are, or should be, looked upon as true greatness as far as true metal goes in these modern times. 


So there are a lot of things going on here to that greatness. First and foremost are the vocals by Sarah Ann Vincent. This woman has a powerful vocal style that oozes true metal. She sings from the heart which you've gotta love. She's got a powerful  gutsy style going on. And she's the perfect singer for this style of music. 


SMOULDER are a touch MAIDEN-esque (aka: galloping rhythms, twin guitar harmonies and of course some amazing leads). Add to that they love some doom as well as the whole old ways of MANILLA ROAD and a touch of CIRITH UNGOL with better vocals of course. Yes it's old school metal worship with no hits or MTV videos. Sarah Ann Vincent and company come off doing sagas on all of the seven cuts here. 


Violent Creed Of Vengeance is an amazing album and something that I'll be listening to for a long time. SMOULDER did not just put out a second album. They put out a masterpiece. The tag line for them is epic metal (whatever that means) but hey the close to ten minute opus "Dragonslayer's Doom" is pretty fuckin epic.   



https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://smoulder.bandcamp.com/album/violent-creed-of-vengeance


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