Danish metal heavyweights, PECTORA, are back once again to flex their muscles with sophomore album, Twilight Knights. Due to be released on 5th April 2024, the album sees the band give their already epic brand of heavy metal a serious dose of steroids. But do these longer, bolder songs outstay their welcome? Read on…
Changes have been afoot with PECTORA since 2019’s full length debut, Untaken. Gone is vocalist Kenneth Jacobsen. His somewhat earthier delivery has been replaced by the soaring, higher pitched vocals of Philip Butler. Butler’s range certainly provides PECTORA with different sonic capabilities as will be revealed below in our full review.
Getting a string of impressive live shows under their belt with RIOT CITY, SCREAMER and SKULL FIST, alongside appearances at festivals like Jailbreak and Metal Magic, and a longer UK tour with TAILGUNNER, PECTORA certainly had an eventful 2023. Now in 2024 they look set to capitalize on this momentum with the impending release of Twilight Knights.
The new album was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann (ORDEN OGAN) in Germany, while vocal recordings were handled by Lasse Ballade (KONVENT, SOLBRUD) at Ballade Studios in Copenhagen.
Line-up
Vocals – Philip Butler
Guitar – Morten S. Nielsen
Drums – Nicolas K. Frandsen
Bass – Gustav Solberg
Guitar – Søren Weiss
REVIEW
The scene is set with sci-fi SFX during opener, “Celestial Signal”, an instrumental track that builds from clanging percussion to a crescendo of flowing keyboard notes, increasingly underpinned by atmospheric drones.
The opener segues into the pulsating guitar riffs of title track and lead single, “Twilight Knights”. New vocalist Philip Butler rapturously announces his arrival with a piercing scream and we are off and running. The lively paced verses are bolstered by Butler’s impressive Bruce Dickinson-like power before the album’s most memorable chorus comes to the fore. This exhilarating and majestic opener’s force is also enhanced by a middle eight that momentarily drops the pace, before providing a scintillating dual guitar solo from maestros Nielsen and Weiss. A breathtaking title track to kickstart the album.
Machine gun drumming propels the more aggressive and immediate, “Cold Void”. At first, the much more understated chorus here felt like too much of a change of gear after the sparkling title track, but repeated listening gave me an appreciation for the way the chorus was subtly integrated into the verses. This more blended approach also seemed to suit the darker lyrical theme.
The more pensive, sustained notes of the opening moments of “Victory in Defeat” are soon smothered by a full-on blitzkrieg of dual guitar riffage that recalls 80s era JUDAS PRIEST. Butler’s impressive vocal range comes to the fore on this track; his righteous blend of Geoff Tate’s operatic vulnerability and Dickinson’s aggressive power serve to accentuate the drama at play.
Delicious juddering thrash riffs during the verses give “Cosmic Menace” a weightier feel than its predecessors. Coupled with a gloomier chorus, these riffs complement what is both the darkest and arguably most dramatic song on the record.
Snarling thrash riffs and rapid-fire drumming launch the more aggressive and frenetic “Children of the Atom”. This one wouldn’t be out of place on a melodic thrash album and gives the record more energy to contrast with its darker predecessor.
“Where everything begins” continues the darker feel of this part of the album. Brooding, chugging riffs and a pulsing bassline recall Operation Mindcrime era QUEENSRŸCHE on this track, which builds to a climax via a suitably chaotic breakdown section before the more reflective tone apparent throughout resumes.
Maintaining a more reflective tone is “Race through the dark”, which, despite a sterling guitar solo in the middle, suffers from a plodding pace and less memorable vocals and guitar hooks.
“On Forlorn Wings” on the other hand, underlines PECTORA’S intentions to create something truly epic on Twilight Knights. Its AOR style opening showcases Butler’s impressive vocal range and provides a suitable way for the song to unfurl its captivating glory. A soaring, memorable chorus (that is matched only by the title track) ensures that this ambitious heavy metal epic tugs at the heartstrings and creates a strong sense of drama. Beautifully done and never feeling overwrought despite its near nine-minute length, it is a fitting way to round off proceedings.
CONCLUSION
Twilight Knights feels like a real statement of intent and a definite step up for PECTORA. Songs like the title track and epic closer get better with each new play. Indeed, the whole album rewards repeat exposure, which nurtures an appreciation of their ability to craft classic sounding metal with liberal dashes of drama, aggression, and melancholy. The hefty forty-nine-minute runtime across eight main songs and a short instrumental initially seemed excessive but ultimately their brand of bombastic heavy metal won me over. While some shine more brightly than others, Twilight Knights glitters with songs that will captivate NWOTHM enthusiasts.
TheNWOTHM SCORE: 8/10
PECTORA
The Nwothm 
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