Gloryhammer - Legends from Beyond the Galactic Terrorvortex Review

Gloryhammer - Legends from Beyond the Galactic Terrorvortex (2019)

Members:

Christopher Bowes (Zargothrax) – keyboards, backing vocals (2010–current)

Paul Templing (Ser Proletius) – guitars, backing vocals (2010–current)

Ben Turk (Ralathor) – drums (2010–current)

James Cartwright (Hootsman) – bass, backing vocals (2010–current)

Thomas Winkler (Angus McFife XIII) – lead vocals (2011–current)

Legends from Beyond the Galactic Terrorvortex is the third studio album by Anglo-Swiss symphonic power metal band Gloryhammer. It was released on 31 May 2019.

First impression:

A nice trip through a fantastic yet quirky world.

Going into this album I will have to admit one big thing, I wasn't very familiar with this band and their lore so this album kinda lost me early on, but it didn't take long to catch up on what was going on here. As this is the 3rd album from this project I did find myself kinda curious about their previous releases and I do plan on checking them out in the near future.  Now then, this is a prime example of the European style power metal genre, grandiose and larger than life with all the typical tropes associated with it. The orchestrations, the sword and sorcery subjects, soaring vocals, and guitar wankery are all here...with a Sci-Fi twist thrown in for good measure. Now let's dig into this album and see where it takes us.

Tracks:

1."Into the Terrorvortex of Kor-Virliath"1:18

An intro track with a bit of narration, choral work, and symphonic elements that sound like something cut from a star wars movie...this leads into....

2."The Siege of Dunkeld (In Hoots We Trust)"4:46

A by the number power metal song that doesn't take many chances but has a great chorus that worms itself into your brain so much that you will start asking what is this hoots thing. More narration by the mythos bad guy happens and more choral work mid way through the track. In ways this sets up a power metal play that you are invited to create in your own head. Not a bad tune, but nothing extraordinary either.

3."Masters of the Galaxy"4:25

Ahh, a galloping guitar riff....shades of Maiden. Another song with an earworm chorus that you will find yourself humming when you least expect it. This one has a mid era Kamelot meets Sabaton feel to it, that isn't a bad thing to be sure. The ever present narration shows up here too, but it serves it's intended purpose and isn't distracting at all. All in all this is a good tune that I have no serious complaints about.

4."The Land of Unicorns"4:25

What can I say about this one except, horns and another mind corrupting chorus. The horns on this thing are front and center through the whole song adding a grandeur to the track that I guess unicorns deserve. All in all it's not a bad track, it's just a typical power metal song with a ever present horn section. This is not bad, but it isn't anything earth-shattering either.

5."Power of the Laser Dragon Fire"5:06

A track that feels like the child of Rhapsody Ov Fire and Dragonforce, not much else that can be said here. It's an OK power metal song with yet another memorable chorus, and a larger than life feel, and more narration as well. Even the guitar solos are paint by numbers here, they are serviceable but are lacking in comparison to others on this album.

6."Legendary Enchanted Jetpack"4:18

More horns plus a galloping guitar riff on a song about flying through a kingdom on a jetpack, yep hoots and goblins make an appearance as well, the solos serve this tune, but the overall story point here is so over the top it actually kinda pulls you out of the story as a whole. This is probably my least favorite on this one.

7."Gloryhammer"5:00

Now this is what I am talking about. This song just sweats power and epic ness, although the line about a "laser powered goblin smasher" made me chuckle in how cheesy that is. This is what power metal is about and I really enjoy this one for it's power and anthemic feel. The song feels like they put a ton of work in it and it just makes you want to throw a fist in the air while it's on. Goblin smasher aside.

8."Hootsforce"3:50

A folksy sounding song, but a song with a great momentum and yet another earworm for a chorus. This is another stand-out track for me and I can listen to it in a loop if I had to and I would not get tired of it. It's a playful song with a great sense about it. But I really have to look into their lore a bit, this hoots thing is confounding me.

9."Battle for Eternity"3:52

The typical mid-range conservative power metal song that exists on every bands album in this genre. A inquisitive track that asks a bunch of "have you..." questions. The solos on this track are a mixed bag but they serve the song and the over all feeling the album is trying to convey. These tracks are usually the filler in any power metal album, and this one is no different.

10."The Fires of Ancient Cosmic Destiny"

I. "Dundaxian Overture"

II. "The Battle of Cowdenbeath"

III. "Return of the Astral Demigod of Unst"

IV. "The Knife of Evil"

V. "Transmission"

12:30

The epic multi-part song, only real problem here, the parts are really not very distinct in this one. Unlike say Manowar's "Achilles" song which made all 8 parts sound distinct yet cohesive, this one doesn't do that really, it's all just variations on a riff and it flows as if it is just one song with a couple narrative interludes. Honestly, this one is not as well developed as it could be, it really falls flat to me and even though there are good elements in it, they are not emphasised like they could have been.

Conclusion:

This isn't a bad album by any stretch, however it's nothing exceedingly special either. It does what it does and not much more, which given the subject matter and the lore they have to build on is a bit of a crime. This could have been a much bigger album contextually and musically if it took more chances, given the talent these guys to exhibit there is no reason they couldn't have. This is a play it safe type of album and it really shows in the long run. I'm curious about their previous releases and I intend to check them out, I just hope I'm not even more let down by this one when I compare them. Anyway, this is as I stated is an average power metal album that took very few chances to go beyond the typical formula. Not a bad album, but not great either. If you like this genre then you will probably get into this one, if you don't like it then this won't change your mind.

Score: 3.5/5