Hammer Of the North, the latest from Sweden's Grand Magus, unfortunately got into my hands a tad too late to be considered on my Best of 2010 list, but it's safe to say if I'd have had a chance to dig into this a few weeks ago it certainly would have ranked pretty highly. Most folks either claimed this as one of the best of the year, or a disappointment compared to the bands more 'doomy' previous outings. Honestly, what's not to like about Hammer Of the North? There are plenty of doomy moments, but the essence of the CD is all about 'classic heavy metal', which is something that should appeal to just about every metal fan.
Thunderous riffs, huge bass grooves, powerful vocals, pounding drums, and heavy, memorable tunes is what Hammer Of the North is all about. JB is once again front & center with his massive guitar crunch and Ozzy-meets-Halford-meets-Coverdale-meets-Cornell-meets-Marcolin vocal style. There's really not a weak track in the bunch, from the grinding "Black Sails", the furious "Hammer of the North", the early Black Sabbath influenced "Mountains Be My Throne", to the near thrash attack of "Northern Star". All killer, no filler. Those who prefer the more doom laden style of the band will love "The Lord of Lies", but the crushing, classic metal riffs of "Bond of Blood", "At Midnight They'll Get Wise", and "Ravens Guide Our Way" are what really drives this album, recalling not only vintage Black Sabbath, but also Iron Maiden, Candlemass, and Judas Priest.
So, grab a listen to Hammer Of the North, and transport yourself back to the era of 1972-1980 all over again. Grand Magus are the real deal folks!
Track Listing
01. I, The Jury
02. Hammer Of The North
03. Black Sails
04. Mountains Be My Throne
05. Northern Star
06. The Lord Of Lies
07. At Midnight They'll Get Wise
08. Bond Of Blood
09. Savage Tales
10. Ravens Guide Our Way
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