Review | Warlord – Free Spirit Soar

High Roller Records

It’s a sizzling hot weekend when I finally pressed play on Warlord’s `Free Spirit Soar’. The world outside is vibrant with temperatures pushing tropical, but within moments, my room is enhanced by blasting the vibrant colors only Warlord can conjure. I had missed the album’s release, a misstep in my journalistic vigilance, but perhaps fate had saved this experience for this time when I needed it most.

The album’s opener is no mere song; it’s a portal. From the first notes, I am transported back to the days when `And the Cannons of Destruction Have Begun’ first shattered my teenage perceptions of what metal could be. The cinematic sweep, the orchestral bombast, the album’s narrative, all present, all elevated. The needle dropped, the record simply landed deep and nested forever around its ominous spoken-word prologue… “1984, the beginning of the end, a world at war”. The dark apocalyptic tenure droning in, followed by the double bass drums fired on ,,Lucifer’s Hammer” shaped my take on metal forever, subduing the roar and rise of the NWOBHM.

THE RESULT IS EPIC

,,Behold a Pale Horse” instantly transports me back to those formative days. Mark Zonder’s versatile, hammered opening and the cinematic guitar harmonies from Eric Juris set the tone for the entire album. Alum Philip Bynoe lays down some of the most pulsing bass lines known to metal, giving the song remarkable sonic depth, especially when his reverberating licks come into play. ,,Judgement Day is now at hand…” Giles Lavery’s voice soars above the thunder, narrating like a sage and guiding us through tales of valor and loss. The result is epic, fresh, and modern, paving the way for even grander moments on ,,The Rider.” Intense melodies, courtesy of Juris, are complemented by Jimmy Waldo’s keen keyboard drizzle. It’s impressive how cinematic and gripping the song becomes, with Zonder and Bynoe injecting subtle doses of progressive hooks and breaks, seamlessly bridging toward the band’s classic `Lost and Lonely Days’.

A MASTERCLASS IN DYNAMICS

The following ,,Conquerors” is a masterclass in dynamics. The guitars, played with both reverence and fire, weave intricate melodies that recall the classic era of Warlord while pulsing with modern urgency. Built around sharp licks and melodies, the song moves forward with a medieval swing. Mark Zonder’s drumming is a storm, with every drum fill and cymbal crash punctuating this saga of triumph. Zonder’s intense little fills and nuanced antics take us on a sonic journey, blending classic metal drumming with progressive and classical richness. The chorus rises like a battle call, heavily defiant and unforgettable.

Warlord’s mastery here is technical and deeply emotional, making you believe in the struggle and feeling the victory. Lavery’s vocal delivery is spot on, with intense pitches and operatic, echoing chants woven into their most melodic lines. Transitioning from the medieval march, ,,Worms of the Earth” is hammered into action by Zonder’s versatile drumming. It’s impressive how he and Juris blend melodies and time changes into a fluent metallic potion. The sonic discharge is powerful, while the chants are epic, grand and memorable. Roars and heavy drum breaks carve an ominous path into the glorious cascade of its finale.

THE SECRET INGREDIENT

With ,,The Watchman”, the band’s storytelling prowess really shines. Jimmy Waldo’s wonderful keyboards are the secret ingredient here; painting broad, cinematic strokes that evoke windswept battlements and moonlit quests. It all evokes instant visions into the mind of the listener. His keys jab into the mix, rain into the centre, or pump alongside bass and guitar, empowering the melodies. Lavery’s vocals are haunting, almost prophetic, and Philip Bynoe’s bass anchors the entire piece with a gravitas reminiscent of the band’s earliest, most mystical work. This being a necessity given Zonder’s most progressive drumming on the album is the epic centre of the record. His tempo changes and polyrhythmic switches demand alternating bass lines, rich in style.

Touching with soul and bluesy tone, while adding heavy melodic melodies to the stirring potion. The song unfolds like a legend retold by the fireside, especially in its instrumental mid-section, where each verse seems to be a page in a living epic, bordering on Blind Guardian’s most epic tales. Giles’ vocals shift to a grimmer tone, his echoing dominance giving way to a more rugged outline. Fierce and powerful, he takes us to the song’s breakdown.

THE ESSENCE OF WARLORD

The title track is where the album’s heart beats loudest. Its colourful opening links directly to ,,The Watchman” and its blissful instrumental section, with wonderful tempo shifts breaking up the structure. This song captures the very essence of Warlord: intensely majestic, highly melodic and unbound. The interplay between guitar and keyboard is a dance of light and shadow, and the chorus is a call to arms for dreamers and warriors. The interaction between Giles and the female vocals pierces the highest regions, and in these moments, Warlord’s mastery is undeniable.

With Waldo and Juris carving out a rich sonic melody, ,,The Bell Tolls” opens immediately cinematic, ebbing with chants and roaring vocals. String arrangements deepen the musical tapestry, while Zonder is everywhere with his fills and tom/snare interplay. In short bursts, almost like drum solos, Mark uses every inch of his kit to deliver a versatile performance. The guitar melody pierces through the classic metal stance, rolling forward as Lavery croons and wails, constantly shifting to match the metallic energy.

The symbiosis of metal and melody is what strikes me most. Hammer-hard and rock-solid, the tracks thunder with significant force, yet nesting melodies always steer the helm. ,,Alarm” is as powerful as US Power Metal gets, with ravishing outcries woven into its melodies. The opening of ,,Twin” features a sharp, harmonized guitar melody that launches the song into orbit. Its melody is simply insane! As the song tones down, Waldo’s keys drone in the low end, right next to Bynoe’s growling dynamic bass and Zonder’s intricate drum shuffles and breaks. The guitar solo again is poignant and jaw-droppingly beautiful.

WARLORD – THE CONCLUSION

,,Revelation XIX” ups the ante on epic output. Charging forward, its thunderous rhythm instantly conjures vivid images. Intense drum breaks, enormous hooks, and time changes propel the song with majestic urgency. Zonder rides the splash cymbal while his double bass and floor tom interaction is wildly dynamic and polyrhythmic. The multitude of guitar melodies showcases the band’s creative skills, blending everything into a track of forging magnitude, colour shifts, and speed bursts, making it a journey all its own. The melodic chorus taps into a medieval drinking swing, bringing the song to its final breakdown.

What strikes me most, listening to `Free Spirit Soar’, is how the current line-up honors the band’s storied legacy while forging their own path. Each song is meticulously crafted yet never feels overworked. There’s a sense of freedom and spontaneity in the heart of the tracks. The musicianship is stellar, with each member a seasoned craftsman in their field. Each note and break a brushstroke in a grand tapestry of sonic appeal.

`Free Spirit Soar’ is more than an album; it enforces the enduring power of (epic) metal and pays homage to the spirit of a band that continues to soar, unbound by time or trend. With Warlord bringing this stellar line up to the world’s stages and with `The Lost Archangel’ released shortly, the world of this Warlord is promising as always.

This is not just a review, but a thank you to a band whose music has shaped my musical metal journey, and whose mastery continues to inspire.

Release date: 10 May 2024