Date: 2020
Total Time: 53:35
Label: Napalm Records
Three years after the brilliant album “Tarot”, the American melodic death metal band ÆTHER REALM returns with its third and new endeavor, entitled “Redneck Vikings From Hell”. In the meantime, they managed to have a very successful tour next to GLORYHAMMER, but their greatest achievement was signing with Napalm Records. Flying those banners, the quartet from North Carolina released their new album, trying to shake off the title “American WINTERSUN”. After all, their influences from the Finnish scene were more than obvious in their first two releases.
The truth is that the transition has been achieved in a remarkable way, incorporating other music genres without losing completely their identity. The album starts intensely with the same titled song, that sounds like a tribute to ENSIFERUM. The added banjo makes it sound like “Stone Cold Metal”. The next song, “Goodbye”, shows the diversity from their first albums. A great melody, with Jones vocals alternating perfectly from clean to brutal. The symphonic “Lean Into The Wind” is a showcase of Gresham’s skills on the drums while “Hunger” that follows is the first highlight of the album with a very uplifting chorus. A song made for concerts.
“Guardian”, which is a ballad, has some very moving lyrics, talking about friendship and being there for someone during the difficult times, while “Slave To The Riff” is the perfect song for Burbage and Arnold to exhibit their guitar mastery with endless riffs. The new elements are vividly shown in “She’s Back” and “Tmhc”, with obvious metalcore influences. “Tmhc” is dedicated to their fans for their support (Tiny Metal Hand Crew). The best moment in the album is definitely “Cycle”. It starts slowly with clean vocals, but later on the melody and Jones’ brutal vocals are reminiscent of INSOMNIUM. A splendid moment. The eleven minutes long “Craft And The Creaper” that closes the album is an instrumental trip that peaks as it progresses.
In conclusion, ÆTHER REALM have delivered a solid album with an amazing production and brilliant songs. Moving to a new label has given them the incentive to re-invent themselves and fearlessly make changes to their music. This complex cocktail they have created is exceptional and will surely attract new fans. The core is there anyway (THMC)…. time for it to get stronger.
Rate:7.5/10
Editor: Nikos Vlachos
Related Link: ÆTHER REALM – Bandcamp Page
