The Batlord

I was only slightly familiar with this band before this, but they're becoming a new favorite now that they've delivered gold on the last two comps. So I'm stoked to listen to more of them. Man, right from the start they're setting themselves apart from the pack. This band really knows how to build atmosphere. "Deliver Us from Evil" (yeah they're a Christian band) is just epic and dark and beautiful. It's melodic and proggy (I suck at recognizing musical complexity and technicality but it feels like prog to me) but at the same time it's metal credentials are unquestionable. Catchy, badass, epic trad/power metal is one of my favorite things on this Earth, and these guys are all that and more. This is quite simply ****ing fantastic. Best thing I've "discovered" on this lark by far. If anyone ever claims that Christian rock/metal sucks I'm gonna punch them in the face, say "Warlord", and walk away without any explanation.

Oh ****! I just could swear that I'd heard "Child of the Damned" somewhere, and then I realized that Hammerfall had covered it. If Hammerfall gives these guys the seal of approval then they are officially gods. And the fact that they are holding their own against Hammerfall's version just cements their awesomeness. Just power metal gloriousness. Trollheart, Unknown Soldier, Anteater, and Briks need to stop whatever the **** they're doing and listen to this band if they haven't already.

Oh my god. They've reformed and have a new album that has two 100% reviews on the Metal Archives. I've just ejaculated.

Warlord - And the Cannons of Destruction Have Begun - 1984

I've decided to do the entirety of Warlord's discography. Their first two albums (the eighties stuff) on this part, and since they had a song on the next comp too I'll put their two reunion albums there. Stoked. Well, there are only seven songs on this, their full-length debut and final album for eighteen years, and four of them were on the EP, so we only have three new songs. The first thing that jumps out at me is that the production is different. It's a bit drier. On the EP the atmosphere was thick and dark and wonderful. It made the whole thing feel magical. That atmosphere is slightly less evident on this. This is only a tiny complaint, but it's still something I noticed. Their Deliver Us EP is probably gonna be their definitive release in my eyes. Regardless, this still rules every bit as much as Helloween and Crimson Glory. But not Manowar. Nothing rules as much as Manowar. Hail and kill.

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