ASSEDIUM - Rise of the Warlords - Metal Reviews

Damien- Drums
Chicco- Rhythm Guitars
Fils- Lead Vocals
Guido- Lead Guitars, Backing Vocals
Drake- Bass, Backing Vocals

There are so many things about this band that are old hat- the well-trodden lyrical themes (Moorcock, Greek lore, Lovecraft, Robert E Howard), the Omen by way of Manilla Road stylings, that one is tempted to dismiss Assedium as a card-carrying member of the Italian/Greek Mark Shelton Appreciation Society, a formidable fraternity that seems to be inducting new enthusiasts at a meteoric rate, what with the deluge of post- 'Open The Gates' outfits forming around said areas.

While your mileage may vary, my own threshold for professed “epic metal” upstarts is somewhat limited, a fact made all the more evident by pitting the next epic metal sensation against the majestic “Gates Of Fire”. Unfortunately, well-placed intentions, gung-ho ingenuousness and misty-eyed nostalgia do not always make for compelling listening. Yet, Assedium do have a consummate polish to their music, and a penchant for songcraft that really distinguishes them from the bulk of their contemporaries, even though they bleed a vein that has been pricked by so many before them. The order of the day is relatively linear- vintage Omen dusted with liberal shavings of 'Open The Gates' and 'Mystification' Manilla Road and 'Into Glory Ride'/'Sign Of The Hammer' Manowar bravura. The Maiden -on-crank throttle of Omen prevails over the latter two as the dominant influence, though the debt to Demaio can already be chalked up on the portentous “Ancestral”, a lofty and rousing prelude to far speedier, 'Battle Cry' -flavored fare on “Sacred Vengeance”, all goosebump- raising, hyper-rhythmic twin guitars and impassioned, hollering vocals. “Messenger Of Chaos” flaunts a doom-dipped riff so Shelton it is virtually plagiaristic, but the song is executed with so much audacious assertiveness that the thievery is politely dismissed in lieu of ardent fist-pumping and hair-flailing, while “Under The Black Stars” sees vocalist Fils doing his best impression of The Shark's unmistakable ululations and “Swordsdance” comes off as the band's “Genghis Khan”.

Fairly predictable but resolutely metal and confidently executed, this is one of the very best epic metal offerings I've heard since the GLORIOUS Battle Ram demo. If not for the sterile, somewhat meatheaded production (the drummer's commendable performance is marred entirely by a mechanical, ungainly triggered drum sound, does make it seem as though he's pounding away at a Casio synthesizer), I'd be tempted to award this far higher marks. If you are as avid an admirer of the early ‘80s US power metal scene as I am, you will lose many brain cells, and rid yourself of plenty of dandruff to this band. Recommended.

Assedium - Rise of the Warlords