MACE ‘N’ CHAIN have followed up on their debut demo with a new record titled, “Among Ancient Pillars”. The band was formed in Sweden at the end of 2020 by David Nilsson (singer of Swedish death metal band Feral) to pay tribute to old school, swords & sorcery, heavy friggin’ metal. Their debut demo led to MACE ‘N’ CHAIN joining No Remorse Records and the collaboration has led to a this creation. “Among the Ancient Pillars” delivers 8 power-packed tracks full of screaming riffs, shredding leads, crushing bass lines, and thundering drums. There are screams, growls, and chants that paint colorful stories of battles, swords, and ancient evil.
Here is the track list:
1. Bloodied Talons
2. The Key to Ancient Riddles
3. Defying the Gates
4. By the Peal of Thunder
5. Labyrinthian Black
6. Mound of Ashen Skulls
7. Fountain of Voices
8. Upon the Anvil Formed
Information about the line-up: Music and lyrics by David Nilsson. Performed by David Nilsson. Guest guitar solos on the tracks: “Bloodied Talons” by Petter Nilsson, “The Key to Ancient Riddles” by Cristoffer Strand, “By the Peal of Thunder” by Markus Lindahl, “Labyrinthian Black” by Matte Marklund, “Mound of Ashen Skulls” by Gustav Lund, “Upon the Anvil Formed” by Jacob Bjφrnfot.
The album was recorded at Pagan Hell Studios. Mixed by Peter Nilsson at Soner Produktion. Mastered by Bart Gabriel. Artwork and logo by Bram Bruyneel. The release date is 3/24/2023 via No Remorse Records. Distribution is as follows: The Orchard (Germany, Switzerland, Austria, USA, Canada, Japan), SoundWorks/Season of Mist (France), Sound Pollution (Sweden), and Plastic Head (UK and rest of Europe).
Let’s get to the good stuff!
MACE ‘N’ CHAIN pays tribute to the classic metal anthems that we all know and love. Throughout the record, you’ll also find hints of speed and melodic metal, and you can’t help but hear a bit of punk influence in the mix. This is a no-nonsense record where each song gets right to the point. There are nice touches sprinkled through the mix that help add some depth to the songs.
The album opens with a hard-driving metal song called “Bloodied Talons”. This one will get your blood pumping before any battle. The next tune is “The Key to Ancient Riddles” and keeps the tempo moving fast, if not showing a bit of melodic elements. Rounding out the opening trio is “Defying the Gates” which shows off some crunchy and galloping riffs. A solid start.
Next up are the songs, “By the Peal of Thunder”, “Labyrinthian Black”, and “Mound of Ashen Skulls” and they are a power trio. All three of these songs are tight and having a driving tempo to them. There is also a notable shift in the sound of the bass and it helps round out the sound. The middle three all have a similar sound and feel with some variations. The middle holds up well.
Closing out the record are two interesting tunes. First, “Fountain of Voices” opens with a bass solo and dives right into a melodic offering. The song is one of the darkest on the record and has a moody vibe. Finally, the record closes with “Upon the Anvil Formed” which is the strongest song, in my opinion. There are crisp and killer leads backed by blazing speed metal riffs. This song is easy to chant along with and could easily be a show closer for the band at live performances.
Conclusion
To wrap things up, this is an inspiring showing for MACE ‘N’ CHAIN. Make no mistake, this is a no-frills metal record that gets right to business and doesn’t let up until it’s done. As the man behind just about everything on the record, David Nilsson has put together quite an offering. He wanted to pay tribute to “true, sword-wielding, heavy, goddamned, metal!” – and it’s worth a toast of your favourite ale in a raucous inn somewhere in the forest.
There are minor flaws that can be picked up, but I think this goes to the no-frills approach. Truthfully, I find it a nod to the understated punk sensibility of the record that it has some rough edges. Put this record in the mix of your playlist and you won’t be disappointed. Clutching your sword and fighting evil is rarely pretty, and the soundtrack to your battles should match. MACE ‘N’ CHAIN gives you what you need, rough edges and all!
THENWOTHM SCORE: 7/10
To learn more about MACE ‘N’ CHAIN please visit the following links:
https://www.facebook.com/NoRemorseRecordsGreece
https://www.facebook.com/macenchain
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