Rating: 7.4

Country: USA

Release Date: 2006

Track list:
1. Withered Tree
2. Sunlight Shines
3. Endless Crusade
4. Wolf Hollow
5. Secrets Of The Mind
6. Heralds Of The Dawn
7. Eternally There
8. Lost In The Darkness

Band Website: Valkyrie

Valkyrie - Valkyrie

Jake Adams- Guitars, Vocals
Pete Adams- Guitars, Vocals
Nic McIntarff- Drums
Nick Crabill- Bass

I must admit that I was slightly apprehensive approaching this release, as certain friends had assured me that it compared favorably to both Peaceville period Pentagram and vintage Di'Anno Maiden (VERY high accolades for one such as I), a doom-laden minor masterpiece from an exciting new induction into doom metal's new vanguard. Being on the Twin Earth imprint further buttressed my suspicions, as the label has, to date, been responsible for two OUTSTANDING favorites of mine (the Starchild and Rebreather debuts), two records that while flaunting an ungodly amount of heaviness, very much lay on the stoner rock side of the heavy rock spectrum. Factor in the fact that these folks make extensive use of metal imagery (the cover features a leather-clad warrior vixen, and the name arouses images of flying sword-wielding maidens!), and my “ironic metal” flag was raised. Was I about to subject myself to the next smart-ass Three Inches Of Blood and The Sword, the next troupe of fudgepacking panhandlers to make a smug, self-aware farce of all the things I love about pure, unmitigated STEEL?

The answer, I have to affirm with great relief, is a firm and resounding no. This record is, for the most part, pretty damn excellent, though I can't help but feel that it doesn't quite reach the stratospheric heights purported by my comrades. What this record is, though, is loose, open, rocking twin-guitar riff rock with doomy inclinations, a grooving motherfucker of an album with a MEAN backbeat and a fluid, amorphous approach to songwriting that really accentuates the believable spontaneity of the band. The touchstones here are rather obvious- Wishbone Ash, Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden, Sleep and Sabbath, though there is a consummate melodicism and offbeat approachability that reminds me very much of a band like Goatsnake. There isn't a whole lot here to justify the comparisons to the likes of Witchcraft and Pentagram, the band reminding me more of the likes of Pale Divine, forcing a host of melodic heavy metal and downer rock influences through a bluesy jam band aesthetic, eschewing conventional, linear song structures for lengthy instrumental excursions.

If the record was more consistently brilliant, we would have a bonafide classic on our hands here, because when it works, this material REALLY hits a home run. Opener “Withered Tree” wrings the life out of a pretty stock blooozzz riff, but when the band catapult themselves into jam mode, the sparks REALLY start flying, the Adams brothers trading breathtakingly gorgeous solos that add a movingly emotional quality to the music, emoting far better than the rather irritating nasally yelps/vocals that dominate the record (the major drawback to the album, I think, you might adore them, but I can't help but reminded of Floor, another monstrous band that was almost ruined by weak vocal work). The solo here is what rewind buttons were made for, really, really great, lush and soulful stuff captured immaculately by a warm and fuzzy guitar tone. “Sunlight Shines” is fuelled by a monstrous, lead-hoofed riff, but again is marred slightly by grating, slightly whiney lead vocals. 03:27 in, and we're greeted with more sexy Wishbone Ash harmonizing, the indolent trudge gathering pace into a stampeding gallop before ANOTHER great solo pierces through the foliage and hands out a noble, righteous ass kicking. “Endless Crusade” opens with an unabashedly melodious twin-V intro, its tuneful-bordering-on-sentimental sweetness prompting me to hoist my lighter aloft in approval. Things pick up with Nick Crabill projecting his inner Steve Harris beneath sheaths of battle-ready, insistent chords, the impetuous, raw and gung-ho spiritedness of it all really bringing “Translyvania” and “Remember Tomorrow” thoughts to the fore.

So far, so great, then, the band showing a finesse for dynamic, organic and free-flowing songs that honestly document a band assured enough in their element to indulge their yen for extended instrumental explorations and brisk tempo shifts. Save for the vocals and the somewhat drab drumming (really wish there was more imagination in the stuff here, because the drum sound in itself is really natural and rich sounding.), this all works splendidly, coming off more like an off-the-cuff live recording than a calculated studio effort…this is how rock n'roll records should sound! Just listen to that bass sound, brilliant!

Following the brief acoustic reprieve that is “Wolf Hollow”, however, things get somewhat uneven- “Secrets Of The Mind” is competent downer drawl that somehow doesn't sound quite as gripping or immediate as the tracks that preceded it, the droning instrumental expedition proving more tiresome than titillating. Thankfully, one of the Adams brothers comes in to rescue a sagging song with more lead pyrotechnics before the tired riff gives way to a throbbing, muscular uptempo drive that again allows the Adams brothers to flaunt their sharply honed dual-guitar dynamic, Nick Crabill keeping up with effortless ease. Yet again, though, the drumming seems incredibly unexciting in comparison. “Heralds Of The Dawn” synthesizes 'Holy Mountain' pummel with 'Argus' flourishes, crystallizing into a track that could be a tad briefer, but for the most part is a triumph. “Eternally There”, meanwhile, begins to sound a little complacent, the band sounding somewhat at a loss for ideas as they attempt to extract the essence of uptempo Orange Goblin -esque biker bluster and conjoin it with white-knuckled, sweltering 'Nantucket Sleighride' energy. The endeavor is admirable, but the results are somewhat limp.

All in all, though, a very interesting and assertively individualistic statement from a promising new band that straddles the lines between Falcon, Pale Divine, Bible Of The Devil, Earthride and Starchild that will clearly find great favor amongst those of you that have a penchant for warm, honest production and unpretentious, neck-tugging heavy metal. This record doesn't, as I wrongly assumed, have any airs about it at all, it is pregnant with conviction, passion and a youthful confidence that gives it an irrepressible charm. I expect great things from this band...all they need to do is come up with a new vocal approach and hire a more interesting drummer (apparently this has already been done, the brothers releasing the rhythm section and hiring some new folks in their place, we'll see how it pans out). Worth a purchase.

June 1st, 2006