Year: 2022
Total Time: 62.09
Label: Napalm Records
This year is marked by the return of finish symphonic metallers BATTLELORE with their new album “The Return of the Shadow”, after 11 years of absence. Its their 7th studio album since 1999. An amazing comeback with 12 new songs and over an hour of epic music.
While listening to the album I tried to think of another literature masterpiece with the same artistic impact on cinema, tv and music as the fantastic world of Middle Earth that Tolkien created many years ago. BATTLELORE chose this safe path to return to discography and their fans will definitely love it. The ethereal voice of Kaisa Jouhki takes us to the land of the Elves in Rivendell, whereas the harsh voice of Tomi Mykkanen buries us to the depths of dwarfish Moria mines.
The first 9 songs of the album are brand new and the last 3 bonus tracks come from the first era of the band. When I first get in touch with a new album, I listen to it many times. At first, as background music while working on something else and then more carefully in order to decide if and how much I like it and if there are songs that stand out. The case with “The Return Of The Shadow” is that I could not choose 1-2 songs that would stick in my mind. This is good and bad. It is good because all 12 songs are equally good and the album flows pleasantly. On the other hand, no song is so catchy that will stick in your mind. Nevertheless, if I had to choose a couple of songs from the album I would definitely propose the opening “Minas Morgul” with some amazing riffs and solos, the catchy and unbelievably melodic “Caves Of The Forgotten” and the heaviest song of the album, “True Dragons”.
To sum up, “The Return Of The BATTLELORE…oopps sorry, Shadow” is a very good album, an appropriate come back for the band with no actual fillers (maybe 1-2 indifferent songs). I hope that it will be the beginning of the new era for BATTLELORE!
Rating: 7,5/10
Editor: Kostas Boudoukos
Related Link: BATTLELORE – Facebook Page
