Like the mythical Arabian Phoenix, Warlord is reborn once again from its ashes thanks to the perseverance of the brilliant drummer Mark Zonder.
This despite the mastermind’s untimely death in 2021 William J. Tsamis, however the author of much of the material present in Free Spirit Soar which right from the iconic cover recalls the immeasurable Deliver Usan absolute masterpiece of epic metal from 1983.
The initial triptych “Behold a Pale Horse” ,”The Rider” And “Conquerors“, contained in the designer album High Roller Records in fact, it recalls the unattainable debut, both in sound and in sonic concept: the first is pure epic metal old litteram graced by Zonder’s drumming, by the newcomer’s Tsamis-like guitar riffing Eric Juris really good at reproducing the master’s sound, without forgetting the excellent performance of the new singer Giles Lavery which are also repeated in the following song which, while retaining the magical imprinting of Deliver Us, is much more dynamic in the solemn heavy epic pace which is sublimated in the fast but always elegant “Conquerors“.
Imagine the enthusiasm of the old scribbler, resurrected from the hospital for the occasion, at such a beginning, except the following “Worms of the Earth” cools at least part of the emotional momentum, because, although good, it is really too pompous and saturated with emphasis for my tastes. “The Watchman” revives everything by returning to the sound coordinates of the initial sacred triptych, thanks to the sudden accelerations that characterize the highly inspired refrain, even if the singer, although good, recalls a little too much Joacim Cans, never tolerated by the writer in the Warlord context. For the record the rest of the training is completed with Philip Bynoe to the bottom and Jimmy Waldo on keyboards.
“Free Spirit Soar” instead, it is perfect in its epic heavy nature sodomized by absolute quality power speed inserts, while “The Bells Tools“it’s far too symphonic, going far beyond the sound context of the work, luckily for me it was immediately swept away by”Alarm“, a very dynamic epic power track of exquisite workmanship and equally captivating “Twin” graced by finely crafted solo guitars and epic digressions that break up its aggressive pace.
It all concludes with the equally grandiose “Revelation XIX“, still heavy epic in its wild state. It remains to remember that the latter, like the initial “Behold a Pale Horse“, was already present in the two works of Lordian Guardanother project by Williams J. Tsamis to whom this work is certainly dedicated which, despite its being “not perfect” gives proof to the musicians involved that they live up to the coat of arms… or almost.
Prosit!
Ulisse “UC” Carminati
