“Heavy Is The Head” , being the third release of the US quartet CHILDREN OF THE REPTILE, comes exactly a decade after their 2013 self-titled debut. And boy, how much have those children grown! Passing through the more expressive and partially experimental “The End” of 2018, the 5 year break was definitely a time well spent. Starting with the album cover one can tell, we are looking at the king of band’s creations, that will reign till the following contender claims the crown. The dark ambient artwork elicits an elaborate mature approach , deeper sound and profound lyrics to constitute more complex compositions.
Line-Up:
Ozzie Darden: Lead vocals, guitar
Chris Millard: Guitar, backing vocals
David “Pils” Hufham: Bass, backing vocals
Chase Kelly: Drums, backing vocals
Review
“Delvers in Darkness” – Dark instrumental intro , dominated by keyboards. A proper prelude to set the vibe and musical direction opening listener’s senses.
“Warriors of Light” – Title antagonistic to the intro which strikes with marching riffs and enchanting vocals. A catchy rhythmic main theme, accelerating guitar section building momentum towards the solo. Which ends in a bang, to reset the tempo and revert back to the epic epilogue of this 5 minutes musical hero’s journey.
“Burner” – First of the two singles released, really burns the ear with an inro scream from the underworld. Beginning like a real hymn , the sirens in the background invoke the smell of danger. The galloping riffs and banging rhythm section stretch the intro , inviting a more high- pitched singing. Guitars competing with vocals in getting more energy out of the chorus. No doubt this makes it a great live song, where you can almost feel the stage heat of the band, missing the classic hard-rock construct with speed metal components.
“Silent Circle” – The storming intro naturally transfers energy from the “Burner” track. The rich vocals supported by rhythmic guitar work, reinventing itself in a catchy bridge to deliver truly classic metal feeling and prepare the ground for a quick technical solo. Nothing silent here…
“Fear the Old Blood” – The slow intro begins the tale and invites more atmospheric vocal style. Melancholy dominates the melody , while the way of singing goas almost gothic, embarking on a mystical exploration of human soul genesis. The dark tonality carries on to the middle of the song when as a beam of silver light a heavy riff comes pounding , to liberate the senses and escalate to the emotional standard set by the previous tracks. No need to fear – metal is here!
“Seven Days of Fire” – The almost biblical allegory on the title comes with a typical 80ties intro. Sudden transfer to a 90ties vocals and guitar style, bringing back long gone cross-over memories. Fast change of tempo , exploding chorus , calming down to low chanting and acoustic interlude , turning again to solid pulsing riffs. By far the most diverse and colourful song of the album.
“Last Words” (Ruin’s Ride) – Single number two , despite its grim title , begins with an intro that sets the mood for what’s to be a wonderful example of NWOTHM composition. One can’t overlook the recognisable influence of the classic Swedish school in the style.It can’t be a casual coincidence that alike its “single fellow” – Burner , Last Words is the next tune suspected for a live stage favourite and definite nominee for the band’s concert encore.
“Adventures” – The piercing, machine-gun intro again alternates the feeling of the listener, inviting us to join a quest with more rage and push in the song dynamic. You can easily feel the “call to arms” in this one, as if the metal legion is preparing for a final charge into glory. Aren’t you just dying for such and adventure?!
“Oath of Order” – The acoustic guitars at the beginning properly allude is to an epilogue. Honest hero’s retrospective and confession of all the struggles gone through. Epic, nearly cathartic atmosphere is abruptly broken by a power outburst of almost thrash riff, while the vocals go on a bold conquest for dominance. So the Oath commands…
Conclusion
“Heavy Is The Head” is definitely fresh and hot melting pot of styles and vibes to
deliver a tasty main metal course. If you’re seeking diversity of choice – this album has plenty of it and its not a long shot to state we witness a pivotal point in the band’s artistic endeavour. Trusted handbook for everyone who wants to take a deeper dive into the C.O.T.R. discography.
THENWOTHM score: 8/10
Release Date: April 7th 2023
Pre-order: https://cotr.bandcamp.com/album/heavy-is-the-head
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