Kryptos: Force Of Danger

Kryptos were formed in 1998 in Bangalore, India. They are often regarded as one of the leading Indian metal acts, with six highly rated albums in their arsenal, and having supported the likes of Iron Maiden, Testament & Kreator amongst many others. Their latest release entitled Force Of Danger was released in late 2021.

I’d liken the style of this release to a blend of 80s Thrash and traditional heavy metal - it’s like a melting pot of Kreator, Accept, Diamond Head and Kill ‘Em All era Metallica. At the heart of it it’s just a straight up, ripping Metal album with a no-nonsense production quality and classic era song writing sensibility.

The dual guitar assault is lethal and tight, whether it be their riffs or leads, there is a lot to like about what they bring to the table. The rhythm section is rock solid. The vocal delivery is snarling, in the vein of Dave Sanchez (Havok) or even Mille Petrozza (Kreator).

Force of Danger is a collection of 8 tracks, all of which are well worth your time if you like guitar-centric, riff based heavy metal. Uptempo tracks like "Raging Steel" or "Thunderchild" will satisfy the most decerning Speed Metal fan. Similarly, Mid paced chuggers like the title track ("Force of Danger") or the closing track ("Shadowmancer") will go down a treat with fans of seminal bands like Priest and Maiden. The album is consistent to the point that picking a favorite track is a tough assignment.

I’ve been critical in the past of bands that roll out well-worn tropes for the sake of it, however this sort of criticism doesn’t seem appropriate for a band like Kryptos. Whilst there certainly is a nostalgic element to this release (and you can hear the bands influences), the songs are delivered with enough originality and conviction that it doesn’t seem like Kryptos are borrowing ideas due to a lack of their own creativity.

My musical taste has developed a lot over the years, but I’ll always have a soft spot for Thrash Metal and NWOBHM, the sub-genres that I cut my heavy-metal-teeth on. Therefore, a well-constructed Thrash or traditional metal album will always hit a sweet spot for my taste. I slept on this album until recently (well past the release date in late ‘21) but I can’t deny Force Of Danger is a strong, enjoyable album - if I had heard it when it was released it may well have formed part of the discussions as a top albums from 2021.

Strongly recommended for all Heavy metal fans.

Track List

1. Raging Steel
2. Hot Wired
3. Dawnbreakers
4. Thunderchild
5. Nighthawk
6. Omega Point
7. Force of Danger
8. Shadowmancer

Added: January 23rd 2022
Reviewer: Chris Reid
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 553
Language: english

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