Grand Magus - Triumph And Power

Heavy Metal
Nuclear Blast
2014








1. On Hooves Of Gold
2. Steel Versus Steel
3. Fight
4. Triumph And Power
5. Dominator
6. Arv (Interlude)
7. Holmgang
8. The Naked And The Dead
9. Ymer (Instrumental)
10. The Hammer Will Bite

At this stage in their career I'm not entirely sure what to make of Grand Magus. Their first two albums didn't do a lot for me, but they won me over with the direct heavy metal ass kicking of Wolf's Return. Then following that Iron Will didn't do a lot for me and I thought maybe it was a one off. After that Hammer Of The North came out and kicked ass again so I thought maybe the band had figured out they'd made a misstep and brought things back to the Wolf's Return style. Then just to confuse me more the band released The Hunt which seemed to have no energy at all. At this point I'd have to call the band incredibly uneven, but when they get it right they can be so fucking good. What this band is... is frustrating. When they just charge ahead and the vocalist wails out "We believe it's our legacccyyyy" they're good. When they plod along in a way that vaguely recalls their less inspired doom/stoner doom stuff they get boring quickly. I honestly had no idea which Grand Magus would show up for Triumph And Power.

Diving into this one, Triumph and Power gets off on the right foot for me immediately with the opener Hooves Of Gold. This is by no means a barn burner and it is pretty plodding in terms of pace really, but it doesn't Feel that way. What it feels like is a methodical, slow burn heaviness with vocals that chant along and then builds to a wailing chorus. It's not exactly speed that sells the band, but the rhythm has to seem to be marching forward and this one nails it. This is just good straight up heavy metal with some nice epic overtones and passion that sells it. Following that one comes Steel Versus Steel which has a nice hard rocking vibe to it and a little bit more of an upbeat pace. This is no speed demon, but it sounds like good music to accompany a biker gang cruising along. Basically, this is more of a Harley than a crotch rocket, but that is just fine by me. I'm kind of reminded of a track like Judas Priest's Grinder sung by a more mid-ranged stoner/doom vocalist. Basically, I was buying into this album by the time the first two tracks finished and that's a pretty good sign for this band. From here out it was up to the band to keep up the energy level and hooks as the sound certainly had established itself as something I wanted to hear more of.

From here out I won't go into total track by track, but I felt the first couple tracks were worthy of a write up of praise. From here things keep up the energy level and I enjoy the songs well enough, but they don't quite stand on their own as well as the first two monsters. Nothing here is even close to bad, but they just kind of settle into a groove of chugging along. These ones don't get my head banging as hard as the album started it going, but it definitely kept nodding along. A little more variation here could have just helped the songs and the album to the next level. Basically, the material is just a little too obvious and blunt in it's mid paced chuggy nature, but it still makes for a good warrior-esque soundtrack. There is still another strong highlight to be found in The Naked And The Dead however however which just has some nasty sounding, quicker paced guitar. This one rips and is well worth the wait. This is pretty much the end of the album for me though as neither the instrumental Ymer is just kind of there and the very plodding, somewhat subdued The Hammer Will Bite doesn't much for me.

Overall, Grand Magus turn in a pretty good listen here. It's not totally rock solid as the middle is more good than great and the end is a bit anticlimactic, but really I'm not going to complain too much about an album that's mostly good to great material. The last track is really the only one I didn't enjoy as I listened to it and that's not half bad. Maybe this isn't quite Hammer of the North or Wolf's Return, but it's not Monument either. I'll take it really. This album kept my interest and is praise worthy for some extremely good highlights. There are better albums that Grand Magus have released for an intro by a new listener, but this should do fine for fans. Really I'm just glad this is one of the albums where they were more on than off. It's the right sound for them and it's enjoyable.

Highlights: On Hooves Of Gold, Steel Versus Steel, The Naked And The Dead

Rating - 3.5/5

Grand Magus - The Hunt

Heavy Metal
Nuclear Blast

2012

1. Starlight Slaughter
2. Sword Of The Ocean
3. Valhalla Rising
4. Storm King
5. Silver Moon
6. The Hunt
7. Son Of The Last Breath Part I: Nattfodd Part II: Vedergallning
8. Iron Hand
9. Draksadd

Grand Magus are a band who have put out two albums I've loved in Wolf's Return and the last, Hammer Of The North. They've also put out some albums that I've liked, but not quite loved in the other three. Either way I was expecting an enjoyable album out of this one, but I did wonder if they could continue the awesome sound that Hammer Of The North brought forth. Basically, I tend to like this band doing doom/stoner stuff, but I love them when they just go balls out metal like on Wolf's Return and Hammer Of The North.

After listening to The Hunt I'm left with the same sort of uneven, hit and miss impression of the band. I want to be excited about them and I am at times, but other times their material is just 'pretty good'. Grand Magus have yet to make anything I haven't liked, but I feel the same way after listening to this one as when Iron Will followed up Wolf's Return. The material just isn't as strong and it ends up being a little disappointing. Nothing here hits with the kind of epic build up as a song like Hammer Of The North or blazes like I, The Jury. What we have here is a less Heavy and more groove and some of it runs together. This isn't a bad album as a stonerish groove album, but it also lacks the heaviness this band is capable of bringing and the tracks bleed together a bit. The Hunt is a decent epic sounding track, but again not quite as good as some that have come before. Still, it is one of the better ones here. Iron Hand is also pretty good as a heavier and somewhat speedier pick up. I wish more tracks on The Hunt had this energy level.

Overall, I just fail to be impressed here. This is pretty good, but it's not that remarkable and I know the band can and has done better. Maybe Grand Magus should spend some more time between songwriting sessions. This theme of Great album, pretty good, Great album, pretty good makes it hard to fully invest in them so to speak. The Hunt might be worth it if you like groove based metal with slightly gruff mid-range vocals. This isn't their best work though.

Highlights: The Hunt, Iron Hand

Rating - 3.0/5

Grand Magus - Hammer Of The North

Heavy Metal
Roadrunner

2010

1. I, the Jury
2. Hammer of the North
3. Black Sails
4. Mountains Be My Throne
5. Northern Star
6. The Lord of Lies
7. At Midnight They'll Get Wise
8. Bond of Blood
9. Savage Tales
10. Ravens Guide Our Way

Grand Magus are a band I've been digging for a little while now so this was one album I was anticipating. Although I didn't like the last album, Iron Will, as much as some of their others (namely the colossal Wolf's Return) that last one was still a good one. Wolf's Return just took their sort of stoner/doom sound and amped it up big time with a nice traditional sort of metal punch. At this point I'd really call Grand Magus just a straight up heavy metal sort band.

On Hammer Of The North, Grand Magus do once again capture that heavy and powerful sound I loved about Wolf's Return as they once again fire out some damn headbangable and catchy songs. Really this album is exactly what I was hoping for from the band. Frankly, I don't know how anyone could like heavy metal and not dig this. It's that sort of metal that's not power metal, not thrash metal, etc... just Metal. Totally enjoyable heavy riffs and a voice that screams metal. Seriously, I think Janne Christoffrsson is about as metal as metal can be with a heavy, resonant tone that lifts itself up into some awesome chorus power.

In conclusion, I just think this is the sort of metal album that's capable of fairly universal appeal. Actually, I think in the way this band presents its sound without any real cheese factor, catchy songs, and plenty of heaviness this band could actually have some mainstream appeal ala a band like Pantera if marketed right. As it stands, I'm fine with keeping them to our metalhead selves. Give them a listen and I doubt you'll regret the choice.

Highlights: I The Jury, Hammer Of The North, The Lord Of Lies, Black Sails

Rating - 4.0/5

Grand Magus - Iron Will

Heavy Metal
Rise Above

2008

1. Like The Oar Strikes The Water
2. Fear Is The Key
3. Hang (Interlude)
4. Iron Will
5. Silver Into Steel
6. The Shadow Knows
7. Self Deceiver
8. Beyond Good And Evil
9. I Am The North

Grand Magus are one of those bands where it seems like they took a few albums to find their sound. Previous to this new one, they have had 3 albums which didn't sound a whole lot like each other. While the first sounded like stoner rock, the second was mostly very down tempo doom, and the third came out fast and hard with a more traditional metal approach. Personally, I like this band with more fire under their ass and their third, Wolf's Return, really caught my attention with heavy metal anthems like Kingslayer.

With that said the band seems to take a bit of a step back here to a bit more groove and doom. While still heavier this album doesn't really smoke the way Wolf's Return does. This album never really gets to that ultra-slow doom sound nor is it fuzzy stoner rock but it tries to incorporate some of that into their heavier sound with mixed results. I don't find anything on this album to be bad but I don't hear a lot of standouts either. When it comes right down to it the songwriting just doesn't do it as much for me as the last and that's a letdown. The only two tracks that really jump out at me are the first and last. Like The Oar Strikes The Water kinda reminds me of what could be a song by Down and I dig it. Good way to open an album with the flow and heaviness of this track and it has a well sung chorus with a lot of power. I Am The North is also a good one with a sort of epic feel to it and doesn't get boring in it's 9 minute stay.

Basically, the verdict is this is a pretty good album but not as good as the last. I still think this band has a lot of potential and if there were more tracks like the two mentioned it would have a higher rating. I just smell some filler on this one as some of the tracks trudge along without much to them than frequently repeated one liner choruses.

Highlights: Like The Oar Strikes The Water, I Am The North

Rating - 3.0/5