Bronze, formerly known as Kramp, is an international heavy metal power-house fronted by Mina Walkure on vocals. Alongside her, the band’s journey began in 2010 with her brother Lap on bass.The band is completed with Cederick Forsberg on guitars & Billy Qvarnströmas live drummer. In 2023, the name change was made public, as well as the announcement for the new album, “In Chains and Shadows”.

And now here we are in 2024 and the album is close to its release! We could not turn down the opportunity to give this a spin and see what Bronze has in store!

Review

Fool rumbles in with pounding toms before we are given some glorious harmonies! And it is great to hear what Cedric is bringing to Bronze who is now on guitar duties! The whole song has loads going on with silky smooth rhythms and plenty of dancing and fiery guitar work while Mina Walkure leads with charismatic vocal lines! This is an easy headbanger and a clear winner for a setlist song! Brilliant opener!

Time Covers No Lies storms in ripping up the ground below your feet! This is sure to be a crowd pleaser with its velocity and aggressive attitude! Its rammed to bring with soaring riffs that leave you wind swept! I am absolutely loving the guitar work and hunger of this song!

The albums title track In Chains and Shadows is up next and things slow down to a mid tempo swagger delivering some epic heavy metal. It feels like a royal event from medieval times. And once again I love how the guitar work is a big focus in the song. So far the album really does feel like a step up from their last release and you can see they have evolved as musicians!

Lets a get a shot of classic heavy metal injected into our veins! Maze of Haze will bring down a fist of metal upon your ear drums. This takes us back to a quicker tempo and continues to deliver on corners! Minas vocal flair combined with spicy guitar licks and a solid rhythm section all add up to make this another great tune!

Tale of Revenge feels like an old tale! More swing and swagger from the high seas. Bronze have clearly shown that they know how to bring balance to their music with another mid tempo number. The weaving guitar tones will get you dancing around like a drunken pirate having a party!

Jackals of the Sea ventures into more unknown territories! Under the veil of night they navigate through almighty guitar chugs and adventurous guitar riffs that tell great stories! And the layered chorus lyrics will certainly have you singing along, especially on the big woahs! Another quality track that will get your fists pumping in the air!

Samurai kicks off with impressive tom work, paving the way for iconic Iron Maiden-esque drum patterns and powerful guitar riffs. The blazing vocal melody seamlessly intertwines with the music, highlighting Mina’s abundant creativity and skill as both a composer and lyricist. It’s a rallying cry, urging listeners to ready their swords and embrace the battle ahead!

Realm of the Damned is one of the albums lead singles and in my opinion one of the best on the album! It is fast and furious and ridiculously catchy! So get ready for plenty of head banging action! The adrenaline is flowing and will cause listeners to break a sweat with out much effort! So power up, switch on and unleash your metal!

Tyrant’s Spell concludes this record and feels like a dark being has just awoken the devil. Out of the fire pit something sinister will come for you! And Mina channels the darkness with some high pitch screams! I love the dramatic touch that she also adds as it reminds loosely of the band Hell who known for their dramatic and theatrical stage performances! This is certainly one of the more punchy and powerful tracks on the album and probably my favourite! Every moment twists and turns and doesn’t run short of ideas! What a way to end an album

Conclusion:

Bronze are back and I have to say this feels like some of their best work yet! Their writing and musicianship has evolved and shows a great sense of maturity. I feel that with the addition of Cederick Forsberg on guitar the band has quickly evolved into something extra special. The solid production gives extra strength to the music so make sure you turn this up to 11!

The Nwothm Score: 9/10

Release: April 24th 2024

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