There are some amazing heavy metal bands from the US and one of them to return in recent years is the almighty Glacier. After an absence of around 30 years the band reactivated in 2016/17 soon returning to the stage at events like Keep It True and Headbangers Open Air. Then in 2020 saw the band release the album ‘ The Passing Of Time’ which proved to be popular among fans! To fill the gap between that album and their next full length which will hopefully come out this year the band released a two track EP in December 2022 by the name of ‘Spears of Destiny.’

The songs “Spears of the Empire” and “The Word and the Will” are equal opposites of a sort, and not necessarily an “A” and “B” side, and the artwork was designed with that intent. They both play upon early Bronze Age motifs of chariot warfare, dynastic rule, and archaic mythologies, with one song lyrically focusing upon the merits/benefits of centralized, elite leadership, while the other leans more heavily on the ugly realities of conquest and enslavement. Since the two ideals seem somewhat inseparable, as opposing aspects of a whole, we felt it appropriate to maintain the pair of songs as a dual-sided EP, and not roll them into the next full length album.

Glacier

Review:

Spears of The Empire comes in like an almighty earthquake. Imagine dark sinister skies with storm-clouds brewing, huge armies marching towards their enemies and production that comes at you like a battering ram. The thunderous gallop of drums (Adam Kopecky) combined with the snaking bass (Alex Barrios,) evil dark tones of guitars (Michael Maselbas and Vincent Ippolito) create a beast of an intro before breaking down to let Michael Podrybau step in and unleash his ripping vocals.

The music twists and turns, weaving like an intricate tapestry of musical ideas as the verse plays out. And then when we ‘Descend’ into the chorus before you are ‘thrown into the pits of the damned’ with barrel of double kicks, swarming guitars and chorus saturated vocal lines. As you move through the song you reach the lyrics ‘Betrayer of souls’ which rise high against the the background of big chants before kicking into a tantalising first solo. It sweeps and kicks up the sands before launching into more double kick, energised vocal lines and monstrous picking guitars giving the song a sense of height and scale. Even more solos are served up hot and tainted taking of into the stratosphere like a ball of raging fire.

Michael Podrybau brings back his mighty vocals with the cries of ‘For your king, for you god for your life.’ It almost presents an image of a strong daring leader taking his army into an epic battle. Then the song drops to small break before leaping back into another big verse and chorus. We revisit the ‘Betrayer of souls’ segment with more chants and eerie guitars before the song comes to an end.

The Word and the Will is the second track on the EP and starts of at a more slower pace, like an intense story ready to unfold. It almost feels like the people bowing before the devilish leader in a temple. But soon enough the snare hits pick up the pace that is latched to a rigid and hungry guitar riff, once again letting Michael Podrybau’s vocals take center stage. The punch of the power and unrelenting force comes at you full on with the storm of guitars and drums. The chorus melody is catchy as hell, ‘I am the order; the ruler of kings. I am the word and the will. Hero of warriors. Hope of the priests. I am the promise fulfilled.’ It dances around merrily accompanied by a perfectly matched 16th note drum pattern!

A short transitioning melody is up next before the song takes flight with large open chords and with the soaring vocal lines ‘Ocean to ocean – everything under the sky, a birthright dominion – the kingdom of space and of time, saviour and sovereign – power beyond world’s end, transcend creation – to die and live again.’ I love how Glacier can deliver music and production that has so much depth and scale to it that it feels larger than life.

A tense solo cuts the seas in half like a beast that has not been fed for days before stripping back the music to its bear bones. This section is pure delight with exotic and playful guitar ideas that at moments are harmonised or tripping and skipping along to tumbling and bouncing drum patterns. It feels something taken from a musical passage of ancient times. This is truly brilliant build up before the armies come in with big pounding war drums and fired up chants. The section is smoked delicately with the words ‘Fire In flesh be joined and bound, by crown and throne be cursed. Forever of the stars, returning from the earth. Until the day foretold, unto the gates of dawn. Upon infinite tongues, the tale lives on and on.‘

As we approach the end of the track, Glacier carry the song once again with another killer instrumental section before we are hit hard with another chorus and smoking outro section!

Conclusion:

Glacier’s two track EP ‘SPEARS OF THE EMPIRE’ is a whirlwind of a ride from start to finish and they know how to deliver there historically ignited music in a way which will leave the listener wanting more. I am excited by this stepping stone and if this is what their upcoming album will sound like then we are in for a treat!

THENWOTHM SCORE: 9/10

Glacier recently caught up with Thenwothm.com for a full interview! You can read what the band had to say about their history and their plans for 2023 by checking out the interview here.

Bandcamp: https://glaciermetal.bandcamp.com/album/spears-of-the-empire

Bandcamp (80s Glacier): https://glaciermetal.bandcamp.com

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@glacier_official6001

Facebook: www.facebook.com/GlacierMetal