WRITHEN HILT is a new band from Germany. Their debut “Ancient Sword Cult” EP will soon be released on Sweden’s Jawbreaker records.
I have to point that the music included in this particular release actually made me stop the process of review writing, actually focusing on the -non stop- listening of the excellent songs of this debut. You see I am of those people that lust for this arcane, epic, sword worshiping and powerful steel that is captured on the band’s music.
I can describe the band’s sound as a wonderful mixture of LORDIAN GUARD, BLACK SWORD THUNDER ATTACK and IRON GRIFFIN -debut album- combined with a wise touch of NWOBHM -APOCALYPSE, STORMQUEEN-, plus some selective melodic Swedish Steel influences –ZONE ZERO, CRYSTAL PRIDE-, before getting driven into a USPM triumph.
The band’s soundscape highlights a mystical atmosphere which is perfectly balanced with the power and wrath that straightly connects the music to BATHORY’s epic era. And while I am mentioning BATHORY I can for sure point that David Kuri’s vocal carries a serious QUORTHON vibe, although that his voice color and his singing way reminds me of another great vocalist: Alex Vornam (ex vocalist of LUNAR SHADOW).
David Kuri also plays guitar in here and together with Jendrik Seiler they are shaping a sharp guitar driven heaven, leaving enough space for the war drumming of Lauritz Jilge and the adventurous bass lines of Steffen Kurth.
I really enjoyed the songwriting on this EP. It is not just about the melodies, it is mainly about this ghostly balance between darkness and light, especially when those emotive dynamics take some nuanced doomy touches and give a downtrodden sense of despair to the songs. Eternal reigning glory through the ethereal passages of despair, that let us follow the strange realm of this opus. And in here I can make a serious connection with the overall vibe that can be discovered into FLAME DEAR FLAME -a great Epic Doom Metal band featuring David Kuri on guitar. Be sure to check out their “Aegis” full length, it is an amazing album-.
So what is the conclusion? Well everything in this release is purely epic. This is a great EP that should not be missed. If you are after some inspired Epic Heavy Metal which is blessed with many other interesting influences, this is a release for you.
The EP will be out on February 24th via Jawbreaker Records. You can pre order it here.
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