And the cannons of destruction have begun… anew! Long ago in a very different time, guitarist Bill Tsamis and drummer Mark Zonder (later to become a member of Fates Warning) joined forces to create a new heavy metal project. Warlord was a little band with a huge potential, and their early demos quickly caught the attention of Metal Blade Records. Their 1983 Deliver Us EP made an impression on the scene, offering regal, semi-progressive American power metal with hooks, pomp, and polish. Despite the promising start, lineup issues and the odd decision to use a live performance recorded and filmed in an empty theater as their full-length debut hurt their momentum.1 And though And the Cannons of Destruction Have Begun… was a solid piece of 80s metal with some major high points, it gained limited traction and left a confused public wondering what to make of it. Further lineup issues quickly undermined the band’s resolve and Warlord came to an ignoble end all too soon. The band’s cult mystique endured however, and Hammerfall’s cover of EP track “Child of The Damned” on their Glory to the Brave debut introduced Warlord to a new generation of metal fans. Soon thereafter, Tsamis and Zonder reunited to revive Warlord for the modern age. Since then they’ve dropped three albums of greatly varying quality.2 Bill Tsmamis sadly passed away in 2021, and now Mark Zonder has seen fit to carry on without him for fifth album, Free Spirit Soar. Can Warlord finally live up to the potential they’ve hinted at throughout their strange history?
I’ll say this about Free Spirit Soar – it truly captures the sound and feel of the band’s early output, as does the album art. It makes it almost too easy to imagine that this was the release intended to follow the Deliver Us EP. New vocalist Giles Lavery (Dragonsclaw, ex-White Wizzard) sounds quite similar to original frontman Jack Rucker and the production is so old school sounding it seems improbable it could’ve been recorded after 1985. Opener “Behold a Pale Horse” is a ginormous dose of old school American power with huge NWoBHM influences and it sounds as if it could have appeared on their EP or debut. Think Wytch Hazel meets Jethro Tull meets Atlantean Kodex and you have a sense of what to expect. It’s a great song with a seriously epic vibe, Lavery kills it with a laid-back but vibrant performance, and the keyboard presence provides a rich atmosphere for the guitar lines to play off. “Conquerors” is another ginormous olden metal gem with a classic metal gallop as classy riffs charge forth and 80s-centric keyboards blare away for dated texture. Lavery does a great job here, reminding me of Jiotis Parcharidis (ex-Human Fortress). The guitar work is slick and tasteful, recalling acts like Savage Grace and Heir Apparent, while hints of Keeper of the Seven Keys era Helloween inform the huge chorus. It’s my favorite song this year and I cannot get enough of it.
“Worms of the Earth” is another massive offering for those who buy their glory in bulk from GloryCo. It introduces a darker, more ominous sound with Lavery going for a more gravelly delivery and the music conjures a wonderfully larger-than-life trve metal feel. The same goes for the massive title track with its majestic gallop and Blind Guardian-esque might which get infused with a weird Blue Oyster Cult luster thanks to the 80s keyboard swells. “The Bell Tolls” is another biggum with a sweet blend of anthemic and epic-scale metal and the chorus sticks like Gorilla Glue. Seven-plus minute closer “RevelationXIV” sounds like a heady blend of Iron Maiden, Wytch Hazel, and cheesy-as-fook 70s sci-fi soundtracks, and though it can feel awkward and WAY too preachy, it still works and contains outstanding guitar work. Only “The Rider” feels slightly underbaked, with keyboards that rip the song out of metal entirely into something like 80s goth rock a la Joy Division. I’m madly in love with the production and how 80s it sounds, but at times the keyboards overwhelm the guitars and render them a nullity. This hurts the overall heaviness and drenches everything in cheddar gravy.
I’m highly impressed by the guitar work from the recently recruited Eric Juris (Crystal Viper). He decorates every song with tantalizingly old school metal leads and harmonies that an iron geezer like me just can’t resist. His playing touches on the best of early 80s metal while venturing into rock and folk for inspiration. Giles Lavery does a great job vocally and plays his part in recreating the sounds of a bygone era. He makes smart choices with his vocal placement and patterns, giving the material enough grit while keeping things smooth and classy. Well-traveled keyboard wizard Jimmy Waldo (Alcatrazz, ex-Vinnie Vincent Invasion) brings an ass-ton of 80s sound to the mix, and though he occasionally overdoes it and becomes too prominent, his playing is a huge part of the album’s charm. Mark Zonder provides a sturdy foundation for the castle building and alongside bassist Philip Earl Bynoe (A-Z) brings a rock-solid backline to the crusade.
I wouldn’t have imagined it possible after so many years and the passing of Bill Tsamis, but Warlord finally gives the metal world their magnum opus. Free Spirit Soar is the album we should have gotten in 1984 and though it’s got flaws, there’s a lot to love and the high points are HIGH. Better still, the album grows with every spin, revealing hidden layers to its rich soundscape. I can see this having a limited demographic due to its very dated sound, but classic metal fans will fooking love it. All hail our new Warlord. Long may they reign.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: High Roller
Website: facebook.com/officialwarlord
Releases Worldwide: May 10th, 2024
