Frontiers [Release date : 15.03.24]

The Lords Of Black are on their sixth album now, so they must be doing something right,

Mechanics… is a thematically sound treatise on the human condition, in which they“embark on a profound exploration of humanity’s primal instinct”. It’s about Prey and Predator. And Survival, although it doesn’t actually use that word.

Guitarist, producer, writer, Tony Hernando is the prime mover of course. He’s never been short of ambition. Vocalist Ronnie Romero plays his part too. His voice, melodic and muscular, wrings out every emotion that the words attempt to convey.

And this is ambitious stuff, musically adventurous and rewarding. That said, the opening track, ‘For What Is Owed To Us’, in navigating a sticky web of bass heavy, sludgy riffs and seismic rhythms sometimes struggles to get a strong grip on the subject matter.

Then everything changes. The powerful second track ‘Let The Nightmare Come’ begins life as a taut, battle hardened bruiser. Its transformation, over the bridge and chorus, into streamlined, sharp edged metal is a joy to behold. The lyrical challenge “Who’s gonna stand their ground, tell me you won’t back down” carries some weight now.

The changes in pace and atmosphere as the narrative progresses and the story unfolds are handled with skill by Hernando.

Arguably, ‘Crown Of Thorns’ and ‘Can We Be Heroes Again?’ map the co-ordinates of the band’s ultimate destination. They sound tough, heavy, but again, songcraft takes precedence over all those amps humming in the room. Hernando’s measured power chords and the incisive lyrics are truly beginning to bite.

‘I Want the Darkness To Stop’ is clearly the album’s peak moment. This is epic Power Metal, lyrically personal, and (as a result) it forms a powerful statement in support of the album’s overarching aims.

‘Build The Silence’ and ‘A World That’s Departed’ see out the story on an upbeat, well defined note, showcasing the band’s blossoming power/prog artistry. ****

Review by Brian McGowan

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Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)

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