Review Summary: The epic element dominating the scene
When a band goes through a storm of changes in it's formation, there is always the possibility that an album will contain the optimal chemistry of musicians. Indeed, this is what happened in the case of the Danish metalers upon releasing their fourth album Blade of Triumph. Anyone who expects to hear something innovative or different than the usual will be disappointed. They do not want to impress but instead they want to give the listener a taste of their sound and they achieve this with a simple strategy. They choose not to focus only on just 2-3 singles that would draw attention (and inevitably include many fillers) but rather presenting a series of good songs.
Pure, solid, true metal with catchy riffs and melodies which remind the likes of Hammerfall, Dream Evil and Rhapsody of Fire. Martin Steene's vocals are not reaching the skies but follow a prudent formula when it comes to sing. He is on the same levels as the rest of the band (although I believe he has many potentials) and does not draw the attention to his person, thus creating a strong group. Lyrics concentrate mainly on epic aspects and tell stories about dragons, knights, gladiators, with the sword element never leaving from the foreground. These characteristics create a consistency throughout the whole album, helping it not to have any weak or dull moments.
In regards to the songs, any of them can be liked equally with the others. Personal favorite moments are the explosive ''Dragonheart'', the hammering ''Bloodbath of Knights'' and the boisterous ''Steel Invaders''. An absolute must for the lovers of epic metal.
