Visigoth - The Revenant King

When I reviewed Salt Lake City's Visigoth's 2012 EP, Final Spell, I knew this band would turn out to be something very special. I was vaguely familiar with front man Jake Rogers' blackened folk metal project, Gallowbraid so I thought I knew what this guy was made of. The EP was actually quite surprising because it was not folk metal or black metal but straight up old school heavy metal and it was really good. So when I heard that Visigoth got signed to Metal Blade Records I was awaiting their full length debut with great anticipation. The Revenant King is the name of this monstrously epic debut and not only did they live up to my expectations, they went way beyond anything I imagined.

I expected more of the same from this band because it seemed that they had a great formula and I assumed they would stick to that formula. They didn't....the threw some shit into the game. They went full on epic with a sound that could only be compared to Manilla Road's classic era. They took a huge chance on this album going for long epic songs that have many layers, instead of going straight up metal, and the result is nothing short of spectacular. Coming right out of the shoot is the title track clocking in at just over eight minutes. That could have been hit or miss for a young band like this but they not only find a way to use all eight minutes to their advantage, they created a new formula that gives this band a new identity. The song is multi-layered with great riffing, great solos, a rhythm that drives the song and melodies that are truly infectious. Vocalist Jake Rogers is a gifted singer with a great baritone that compliments the song, especially the chorus that just sucks you in. Every second of these eight minutes will have you spellbound as they take you on a journey, pulling you inside the story that they are telling.

But wait, they throw another twist into this album as the follow up song, "Dungeon Master". This song doesn't bother to be over the top epic but instead just kick your ass with major riffage all the way through, kicking it up a notch with a more speed metal oriented song. This is another song that has a great chorus as well as great guitar work. It slows down in the middle only to kick your ass with dual lead solo battles that are nothing less than godly. Another song that has this driving speedy rhythm is their cover of Manilla Road's "Necropolis." They not only did this song justice but just they killed it. It was this cover that actually made me go back and have a new found appreciation for Manilla Road. They also re-recorded "Creature of Desire" from the EP but for some reason I prefer the original. That song seemed to work better for the production on that EP and may be the only song on this album that did not seem to fit in with the rest.

For the most part, though, this album is just plain epic metal. You have songs that are metal anthems like "Mammoth Rider" with it's slower tempo and crushing riffs that even touches on doom with the riffs towards the end. You also have the absolutely heavy and pounding "Iron Brotherhood" that is the metal anthem for this generation of metal heads. Then you have a song like "Blood Sacrifice" that begins slowly, almost as if it was a ballad with clean guitars with a lead part and Jake Rogers' incredible vocals building up to an all out speed metal assault. This song just slays from beginning to end with it's catchy chorus, pounding rhythms, monster riffs, monster solos, and melodies towards the end that grab you and never let go. To round out the album they end it as they started it...with an almost 10 minute epic monster of a song, "From The Arcane Mists of Prophecy." If you thought the opener was as epic as they could get, think again. This song has so many layers and twists but never becoming chaotic or falling apart. The riffs, the melodies, and just the overall triumphant feeling of this song will make you want to pound your fist in the air.

As I said, this band took a chance it it paid off, in spades. They aren't showing off or over reaching and there is nothing here could be construed as pretentious. This band is the future of traditional epic heavy metal. The torch has been passed, they ran with it... and they will make heavy metal history. I predict only great things for this amazing band.

9.8/10

Visigoth - Final Spell (EP)

Fuckin' Bandcamp's the shit! That is where I found this Salt Lake City quintet that named themselves after a mighty Germanic tribe...how metal is that? And these guys are fucking true metal to the core. They released a demo in 2010 and then this EP in 2012 entitled Final Spell. This band appears to be the brainchild of Jake Rogers who is the epic black/folk metal band Gallowbraid. Well this guy is someone to watch out for in the future because both bands are of high quality. But with Visigoth it is true metal that takes me back to 83 listening to Metal Shop on the radio. I can't get enough of this. This is the second major discovery of a true metal band in two weeks and my old metal heart could never be happier.

These guys come right out of the shoot with the opener "Creature of Desire" and this song just rocks. The riffs are plenty and the vocals are excellent, especially the harmonies and the chorus is really catchy and melodic. It's nothing out of this world or innovative, just the heavy metal that I grew up on. The production is nice and clean without being too modern or sounding plastic. The solos are really good without being too technical or pretentious and the song if full of hooks. I know some will say that the songs are too long as all of the songs on this EP are over five minutes but for me that only adds to the beauty of it all. This is music where the songs can be long because there's always something going on and it's always good!

Sadly this is only a four song EP but they do not waste any time with keeping it going. The title track is more of the same as they continue the aural assault of huge riffs and massive solos. The vocalist sounds really old school with a solid range, nothing too earth shattering but it's good. He's got a clean voice and he gets the job done quite well. As I said before, the harmonies are really good. The last song "Call of the Road" is the same way, massive old school riffs and a melodic chorus that I'm still humming. There is a song on there called "Seven Golden Ships" that is probably the most modern sounding song on the album being tuned way down but it's not riffless chugging, there's plenty going on. The song is a bit slower but it has great hooks and the chorus is catchy. Halfway through it speeds up and that blazing solo is just godly.

The only really letdown of this EP is that it's too short. I can't wait to hear a proper album from these guys. I understand that these guys recently got signed to Metal Blade so we'll have to see what's next for this band. It seems that there is a huge crop of really old school bands out there, some good and some not so good. This is one of the better ones for sure. Hopefully with some recognition these guys could go far.

8.5/10