Review Summary: “Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand…” -- Robert E. Howard
Conan the Barbarian, the most famous character in the works of Robert E. Howard, has inspired numerous art pieces and even found his way into the realm of metal as well in the works of several bands. Among them, the French outfit, Nemedian Chronicles, stands out, commemorating the Cimmerian's adventures in their debut, a masterfully crafted cinematic heavy/power metal album.
The album kicks off with the incredibly epic intro, "Nemedian Chronicles," which leads into Conan's story with a narration reminiscent of classic sword and sorcery film scores (
using Howard's own words). At this point, one can already feel the tremendous amount of work poured into this album, making it an ideal introduction to the album: an instantly immersing experience. The album's “second intro” seamlessly shepperds the audience into the "realm of guitars", as "Born on a Battlefield" functions as a clever shift from orchestral music to cinematic heavy metal. Personally, these two tracks were my favorites throughout the album, as they captivated me with their epic atmosphere and melodic richness.
The true metal journey begins with the song "Venarium," stylistically reminiscent of bands like Blind Guardian and Hammerfall (with a touch of Manowar-esque “barbarism”). The songwriting is praiseworthy, each song has its own character, skillfully exploring different aspects of Conan's adventures - this is a particularly enjoyable experience for those familiar with the novels. Altogether
The Savage Sword contains excellent compositions, plenty of great riffs, solos, and, notably, beautiful vocals throughout the album. Speaking of singing, Alexandre Duffau's performance really stands out, as he’s confidently singing in both lower and higher registers. Additionally, the choirs in certain tracks (such as "Tower of the Elephant" or "The Song of Red Sonja") are also fantastic, and these had an important role in maintaining an epic atmosphere. I would especially commend the aforementioned two tracks, as they demonstrate that the guys in Nemedian Chronicles have no difficulty crafting longer songs (nearly nine minutes each). It's also worth highlighting the album's sole instrumental piece, "Black Lotus / The Curse of Thog," which incorporates Eastern/Egyptian melodies, adding a unique flavor to the album. This kind of creativity was exactly what’s necessary to prevent an album from becoming monotonous, despite having a quite lengthy duration (more than seventy minutes). In my opinion, the only downside here is that there could have been more interludes on the album, such as one or two pieces evoking cinematic sensations similar to the intro, “Nemedian Chronicles”.
In my opinion,
The Savage Sword is an exceptionally strong heavy/power metal album. Its thematic choice is particularly compelling, as it irresistibly draws listeners into this epic realm - not to mention the great riffs! I wholeheartedly recommend this album to those who enjoy Blind Guardian or the Conan novels.
