AFM Records [release date : 07.07.23]
We distinctly remember reviewing All For Metal’s trailer single, ‘We were Born In Valhalla’, back in December last year, and referring this dubious claim to a Fact Check website.
Well, they never got back to us. What we can say with certainty is that ‘Born In Valhalla’ is an irrestistibly catchy Viking anthem, and might remind you of the approach taken by Lordi… heavyweight guitars, over the top theatrics and great tunes.
The band’s twin vocalists, the muscular giant Tim “Tetzel” Schmidt and the charismatic Antonio Calanna, are joined here by a rare combination, two outstanding female guitarists, Ursula Zanichelli and Jasmin Pabst, with Florian Toma on bass and Leif Jensen on Drums.
The band’s impressive and exceedingly popular first heavy metal single, ‘All For Metal’ opens proceedings. Calanna’s powerful, quasi operatic tenor mixes perfectly with Schmidt’s visceral growl. As a rousing call to heavy metal arms, it’s the ideal opening.
‘Goddess Of War’ and ‘Raise Your Hammer’ is soaring, primal Viking Metal at its most entertaining. Tuneful, adrenalised, designed to stir the blood as well as to stamp the band’s identity on the music.
And that’s what they do here. AFM (get it?) are no Manowar copycats. They write a mean and memorable melody, then add a grab-you-by-the -throat chorus, then overlay that with intelligent references to Viking Metal myths.
Experienced producer, Hardy Krech plays it smart, allowing the band the freedom to flex their highly melodic, highly metalised muscles.
A marriage made in…well, Valhalla. ****
Review by Brian McGowan
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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024
In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections
Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024
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