The Challenger debut record feels epic and strong! Complex and ambitious, it bears the hallmarks of the classic titans of metal!

Challenger has emerged from Slovenia and have thrown the gauntlet down for their debut record. DYING VICTIMS PRODUCTIONS continues their winning streak in providing the best emerging bands on the NWOTHM scene. Filled with classic influences that will delight metal fans from all eras, “Force of Nature” is a record dense with epic sound and feel. It will be released on October 25^th, 2024.

The band members are:

Jakob Rejec – vocals, rhythm guitar
Urban Železnik – lead guitar
Samo Stopar – bass guitar
Toni Pleško – drums

For this record, there is a grand and epic feeling that emerges from the music and the storytelling. It’s filled with familiar sounds that will make you think of Iron Maiden, Saxon, and Rainbow. War, evil, the ills of society, and other themes are present in the lyrics. These are delivered in soaring fashion and are accompanied by a vibrant tapestry of solid metal.

The overall mix is exceptional and I especially like how the bass stands out in the tracks. On top of that, the guitars drive and careen, with moments of soaring and shimmering. Clearly, there is quite a bit of musical talent contained within the group. After the first listen, I immediately hit repeat and was drawn in deeper to this classic metal effort.

Of note, the band really likes mid-song tempo changes. Is this a deal breaker? Not at all. On the first listen, it was something that felt hard to follow. Further immersing myself in the album really helped it come together in a flow that made sense.

That being said, Challenger are seriously talented musicians and there’s a lot to like here.

Here’s the full track list in order:

Imperial Madness

Under the Skin

Victims of War

Exhausted Earth

Recurrent Universe

Force of Nature

Sleepless

The Final Epoch

Let’s go track by track:

Imperial Madness – This song opens the record with a truly epic feeling. The vocals sound vibrant and the guitar work is great. It’s a classic metal track that opens the record strong. The tempo shifts in the song a couple of times, likely for dramatic impact.

Under the Skin – You can feel the evil stirring in the name of Satan as this track builds. Again, there is a classic metal sound and it jumps through the speakers. The bass shines on this track, as it is mixed well and on full display. There is a mid-song shift that really plays into the theme of evil influence with the vocal sound shifting for added drama.

Victims of War – It starts slowly and builds into a trot and then leans into a nice speedy pace. Again, the collective sound of the band comes together to fuel the theater of the mind for the theme of the track. A mid-song tempo shift that slows way down, breaking up the flow of the track.

Exhausted Earth – This is a track based on a baroque inspired guitar sound. There’s an air of sadness and lament that builds a bit of emotion. About halfway through, it picks up into a full electric piece but keeps the melancholy elements. This is a gem on the record and lives up to their full epic potential.

Recurrent Universe – An instrumental track that does what makes this band good… classic metal in all it’s glory. It’s a good power workout track or one to raise the volume on when you’re hitting the highway. Either way, you’ll feel the power coursing through your veins.

Force of Nature – All in, this is not a terrible track – but it’s also not a standout either. All the elements are present… vocals… riffs… bass line… and another mid song tempo change. From the record, this one has some of the strongest melodic elements.

Sleepless – A big track that establishes a groove feel right from the opening. There are some soaring vocals that go along with the music.

The Final Epoch – This is easily one of the best tracks on the record. It starts with a majestic feeling and then a sinister element begins to lurk in the background. These dramatic elements weave an epic tale.

Wrapping Up

For a debut effort, Challenger has delivered a strong and satisfying entry on the NWOTHM scene. Clearly, they are talented musicians and have been inspired by the best that the genre has to offer. Iron Maiden and Saxon are clear influences and that is a great thing. They’ve put a lot of effort into refining these songs into epic episodes.

Constructively, I would say that there are many times where the songs change tempo and it breaks the momentum of the music. I understand that this element is a great ways to emphasize lyrical themes or to build parts of the story. However, instead of providing focus, I found that these changes were often taking away from the cohesive nature of the songs.

That’s not to say that I do not like this record. Unequivocally, I really do like this album. It’s a great entry into the pantheon of the NWOTHM genre by a talented group of people. I’m certainly a fan and will be watching their career, because I think they have a lot to offer. With a bit of refinement and focus, future Challenger releases will be even more epic!

Play it loud!

TheNWOTHM Score: 7.5/10

“Force of Nature” by Challenger will be released on October 25th, 2024. You can support the band by buying their music and merchandise here and here.