LORD GOBLIN is a band that is hailing us from Buckinghamshire, England but is comprised fully of Italian musicians. They were originally founded in Sardinia, Italy in 2007 by Lord Goblin (real name Marco Piu, vocals) and Antares (real name Tiziana Federica Ruiu, bass, logo creator, nowadays ex-wife of Marco and ex-member of the band as a bass player). Mornar (real name Andrea Giribaldi, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards) joined the band in 2012.
The band has relocated in England in 2014 and from 2015, Athanor F.D.H. (real name Flavio Fancellu, drums) has been cooperating with the band, recorded with them in their previous releases, which were the 2016 single ‘’Path of Glory’’ and the 2021 EP ‘’The Ordeal’’, before becoming a fully member of the band recently, in 2024 and he is the only member of the band still residing in Italy.
The band introduced their debut full length album earlier this year, on the 10th of March 2024 and the release was independent and only digital. The album made quite an impression to me and I was wondering at the moment how is that possible, such a talented band, not to have been discovered and not to have a label in order to help them professionally with proper promotion, physical formats and distribution of their music.
It was true that my question didn’t take so long time to get answered, as we were informed on the 1st of July 2024 about the signing of the band to the Hellenic label of No Remorse Records and the forthcoming physical release of their debut album. On the occasion of this physical release, it was a good opportunity to make a review about the album and say also a few things about the band.
First of all, personally as a reviewer, I have an old school attitude and I take much into consideration the cover art of a record and how the band is presenting itself artistically. Furthermore, I can’t stand (maybe despise is the correct word) AI cover art. The cover art for the LORD GOBLIN’s debut album was created by the Indonesian artist / designer who uses the pseudonym Hellish Maggot and as you can see it’s a great piece of art, that has a mystical and occult retro ‘70s look, which I really liked a lot and made me curious from the very first moment, how the bad would sound.
My questions would start to get answered as soon I listened to the first track of the album ‘’Northern Skyline’’ and as I progressed the listening session, with the next two songs ‘’The Wanderer’’ and the ‘’ The Oracle’’.
The first track opens with a black metal style riff reminding me DISSECTION and THULCANDRA, before it evolves to classic heavy metal formulas. A fitting mix of traditional metal clean voice imposing singing, low black metal tuning with black metal double bass / blast beats, leading to a splendid and super catchy anthemic chorus endorsed by ‘70s style Hammond keyboards in the background.
The ‘70s elements and the Hammond organ bringing memories of DEEP PURPLE or URIAH HEEP, get more prevalent in the second track, despite the IMMORTAL-ish epic black metal riff and the tremolo picking that lies underneath. The expressive voice of Lord Goblin sounds to my ears like a combination between the voices of JP Abboud of TRAVELER and Joseph Michael from WITHERFALL.
The third track, which is almost eight minutes long, is kind of distancing itself from the first couple of songs, because it has a distinct epic metal atmosphere similar to that we have met in DOMINE’s and DOOMSWORD’s music, with a grandiose and dramatic feeling. Again, the Hammond keyboards combined with hooking riffing give that extra flavor that makes the listener immerse so deeply in the atmosphere, that would not even realize that this song lasted eight minutes.
‘’Freedom Rider’’ and ‘’Thunderous Smite’’ that follow in the album, are two instrumental songs, fusing all the aforementioned elements in an impressive cinematic and heroic soundscape culminating into a thunderous pounding drumming solo in the second instrumental, making them both the perfect prologue for the last part of the album, which is divided in two songs: ‘’Light of a Black Sun, Pt. 1 & 2’’.
The epilogue of the album is enthralling, reminding somehow PRIMORDIAL at their best tunes, giving the perfect ending to a total pandemonium of astonishing power – black riffing, passionate Hammond keyboards dancing and ethereal singing.
LORD GOBLIN achieved in their debut album to craft an unearthly magical and mystical heroic epic saga, which has all the grandiose references and musical passages, tight together, with inspiring songwriting and imposing, almost ancient, poetic, ritualistic atmosphere.
‘’Lord Goblin’’ will be released on physical format on the 22nd of November 2024 by No Remorse Records and will be available on LP and CD.
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Check the discussion about the album in our forum pages.
