Gloryhammer – Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards
Gloryhammer
Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards
Power Metal / Space Metal
Released: 25th September 2015
via Napalm Records
The Scottish-Swiss metallers Gloryhammer return with their follow up to 2013’s immensely successful Tales From The Kingdom of Fife with this newest offering Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards; yes that is the full title. It just wouldn’t be power metal without being over the top. I have to say though, this album is a massive improvement over the first. Gloryhammer have taken every good aspect of the first record and capitalised on it ten fold. The production is more grandiose and the plotline of the music is more outrageous. I have been absolutely overwhelmed by this album and just as some fair advice, I would recommend going out and buying this album.
The album opens with some very ominous sounds as the narrator tells you of what you’re about to hear. What’s better than sword and sorcery fantasy stories? Sword and sorcery fantasy stories… in space! Right from the get go, I became intrigued with this concept and the band pull it off with style and flair, everything about this album from the sound design to the lyrics is created with the intention of sucking you into this fantasy world and keep you entertained. There is just so much good about this album that I truly do not know where I should begin. The first single to come off this record ‘Rise of the Chaos Wizards’ is quite epic with a heavenly choir and a heavy riff, it almost feels like an Epica song. However, their music is engineered with a plotline, it’s near impossible to follow but it’s really cool just listening to something this complex and ridiculous at the same time.
Highlights of the album for me have to be songs like ‘Questlords of Inverness Ride to the Galactic Fortress!’ yes that is a stupidly long name for a song, yet it has a big sounding production that really gets you pumped. Also songs like ‘Heroes (of Dundee)’ and ‘Goblin King of the Darkstorm Galaxy’ have the cheese factor turned up and are just genuinely fun songs. The only problem I have with this album is that sometimes it can get a bit repetitive, I mean I know they’re not going to write a hit with every song. However, some melodies and choruses get a tad too overplayed with in the short runtime of the songs and it can get a bit boring when that happens, such as in the song ‘Universe on Fire’. Nevertheless, the music is so over the top silly that you really can’t be mad at their music.
I can’t recommend this to everyone. However, if you’re like me and have a tolerance for silly gimmicky metal then this album shouldn’t give you too much trouble. The band’s performance on this is completely stellar and they do everything in their power to make this album entertaining and it is. I was completely sold and I’ve been having a bunch of fun with this album. Go have a listen and enjoy the fun that is Gloryhammer.
4.5/5
Mick Birchall
Valkyrian Music 
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