Have you heard HIGH WARDEN‘s cover of REVEREND BIZARRE’s “Cirith Ungol”? Let me just say that they TOTALLY NAILED IT in their “Land of Stone” demo, recorded in 2022 and released in early 2023 by Dying Victims on cassette.
Wasting no time, the German trio has returned with their debut full-length album, titled “Astral Iron”. The band was founded in 2022 by vocalist and guitarist Alastair van Morgue-Gûl (also known as Alexander Mock from NEORITE) and drummer Sadistic Hammer. Initially brought on as a live bassist, Lord Perish joined as a full-time member the following year, completing the lineup. For the new album, the members are credited simply as A.M. (vocals, guitars), S.H. (drums), and L.P. (bass).
HIGH WARDEN cites influences from REVEREND BIZZARE, DOOMSWORD, BATHORY, MANILLA ROAD, PAGAN ALTAR, TROUBLE and MERCYFUL FATE. You can definitely hear elements of all these bands in “Astral Iron”. Personally, I’m not fond of labeling genres, especially when it can be more confusing than helpful, but since the band has thoughtfully described their sound as “Slow Heavy Metal”, I’ll stick with that.
HIGH WARDEN combines epic heavy metal and doom metal, creating a sound that is both familiar and distinct. They embody their so-called slow heavy metal with mighty, powerful strength – not relying on speed, but rather crafting a gradual, enchanting allure that captivates the listener. The result is a rich tapestry of melodic epicness and sorrowful doom.
The album features six tracks, but “Burgfrieden” serves only as a synth interlude – an intriguing piece, offering a pleasant break among the more substantial songs in terms of length.
“The Morn Is Wiser Than The Eve” showcases A.M.’s commanding vocals, which are expressive but not operatic or chromatic, perfectly matching the soulful tone of the song. The galloping rhythm and unhurried progression create a mesmerizing riff that makes the six minutes pass in a blink.
“Devil His Due – Whores of Yerusalim” begins as a typical epic doom track before unfolding into a Viking metal epic reminiscent of BATHORY’s classic sound.
Next is “Burgfrieden”, an eerie, dungeon-crawling introduction to “Pale Hunter”, which reveals a more intricate side of the band, invoking the occult in a manner that directly echoes MERCYFUL FATE.
Then comes the self-titled track, “Astral Iron”, a formidable expression of TRUE HEAVY METAL that transcends cosmic boundaries. This isn’t an easy-going sing-along; rather, it’s a soul-crushing, relentless experience, showcasing the band’s values – bass tones that shake the very soul, drumming that intensifies the melodic arrangements, and a formidable display of guitar work and vocals.
A.M.’s voice plays a crucial role in shaping HIGH WARDEN‘s sound. His plaintive, poignant delivery perfectly illustrates the lyrical themes, which blend personal reflections with analogies drawn from various fantasy works, historical events, legends, and myths.
In the album’s closing epic, “We Shall Burn at Foreign Shores (The Choice of Achilles)”, we once again witness BATHORY‘s dark, epic atmosphere, enriched by melodic guitar touches. The song culminates in a stormy, bombastic finale that is nothing short of spectacular.
To sum up, if you enjoy gloomy, slow-paced heavy metal infused with themes of battle valor and occult oddities – blending the allegorical and the emblematic—then this album is for you!
To put it in other words, if you want to experience how doom and epic can be fused without adhering to the traditional epic doom formula, then by all means, taste HIGH WARDEN‘s steel.
A special mention must be made of the artwork by Spiros Gelekas, which perfectly complements the album’s aesthetic.
“Astral Iron” will be released on November 22nd by Dying Victims Records, on both CD and LP.
Check the discussion about the album in our forum pages.
You can pre-order both the CD and LP here.
