Trad/Power Metal Thursday.

Fellowship - 'The Saberlight Chronicles' (2022)

Going though a tough time? Feel like it's been sometime since you've managed to smile? Let me share with you an elixir that is sure to help show those pearly whites to the world again. The debut LP from Harwich, England's Fellowship is more than a worthy follow-up to their acclaimed 2021 self-titled EP. With 'The Saberlight Chronicles', Fellowship effortlessly expand upon the tremendous promise (and talent) they displayed just a short year ago. I can think of few records in recent memory (with the exception of Shadowstrike's 'Legends Of Human Spirit and Elvenking's 'The Pagan Manifesto) that are as joyous and unabashedly fun as 'The Saberlight Chronicles'. The sugary opening notes of album opener "Until The Fires Die" feel as though they could have been ripped from a Disney cartoon before leaning hard into the neoclassical territories that Fellowship deftly explore over the course of the albums remaining 11 tracks. At an hour in length, 'Chronicles' could have easily fallen into a bloat trap, but vocalist Matthew Corry and Co. keep things varied through the course of its runtime. Its largely a mid-paced affair but there are absolutely some power metal scorchers on display here. "Oak And Ash" will leave you breathless, not just from the lightning fast riffing but from belting out the criminally catchy chorus. It's these choruses that are at the center of 'The Saberlight Chronicles'. Its a very vocally driven album and Corry absolutely nails it. Though every member contributes to the cheerfulness emanating from this albums beating heart (the guitarwork is especially bright and fun), it wouldn't reach the heights it does without Corry at the helm. And what heights it reaches. If The Neverending Story were to have been made today, this is definitely the album Bastian would be rocking on Falkor's back.

Sorry Blind Guardian, but this is the power metal album to beat in 2022.

6.0/7.0

Standout Tracks: "Until The Fire Dies", "Oak and Ash", "The Hours of Wintertime"

The Saberlight Chronicles | Fellowship (bandcamp.com)

Trial - 'Feed the Fire' (2022)

Its been an absolutely stellar year for the NWoBHM. Releases by Raptore, Manimal, Hell Fire, Venator, and Satan (the list could continue) have all taken turns snapping my neck and tiring out my horn making hands over the past several months. As Zap Brannigan once said:

“The spirit is willing, but the flesh is spongy

and bruised.”

Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly raise the horns for another NWOHM release this year, along came Trial (SWE) to the towel party with ‘Feed the Fire’. The Dark Forest-esque guitar melodies of album opener “Sulphery” were like Cialis for my joints. My twisted, knobby fingers sprang back to life and I could reluctantly feel my spine straightening as my hands began to slowly lift two invisible orbs to the heavens before erecting into some of the hardest horns I’ve raised in 2022. Alexander Ellström and Andreas Johnsson conjure all manor of black magic riff-ery over ‘Fires’ 46 minutes. 80s US speed metal, NWoBHM, melo-death and even small traces of black metal are weaved seamlessly throughout,

sometimes within the same song (have a listen to the brilliant ‘Snare of the Fowler’ feat. At the Gates Tomas Lindberg). Equally impressive across ‘Feed the Fire’ are the vocals. As other webzines have touched on, Trial (Swe) have found themselves a boon with newcomer Arthur Andersson. I’m not sure where these cats dug this guy up, but he is a vocal juggernaut. "In the Highest" is a 2022 vocal showcase.

Trial (Swe) is a band that I admittingly knew little about before diving into "Feed The Fire'. They are on my radar now. Excited to see where this band goes next.

6.0/7.0

Standout Tracks: "Sulfery", "In The Highest", "Snare of the Fowler"

Feed the Fire | Trial (swe) (bandcamp.com)