Woe of Tyrants - Kingdom of Might (Metal Blade/Stomp)

Thrash/death band Woe of Tyrants shred their arses off through this release - but is it all it's cracked up to be?

 

This is a difficult album to write about, mainly because there is so much to say about it and pros and cons of it on so many levels. So maybe some history first, eh?

 

Woe of Tyrants is a young band: it kicked off just five years ago, and the average age of each of these musicians is 21. They released their first full length album in 2007, before being signed with Metal Blade, on which this album, Kingdom of Might, is their first. The band have described this release as their 'pride and joy' musically.

 

Overall, this band is a death/thrash band, with the intervening influences of metalcore and some of the epic styles that could be seen as derived from power metal. So, you get a vocal style with frontman Chris Catanzaro that moves between brutal death vocals, to deathcore; you get a few breakdowns; you get some nicely written solos and even some acoustic work. 

 

The filmic-score style of the first track Jesu Juva is melodic in a grand way. If you take this as setting the scene for the album, you'll be disappointed. The first instance in which this comes back to the fore is on the intro of track six, Kingdom of Might (Dawn in the Darkness). 

 

Woe of Tyrants has a very full sound, which is helped along by a technical ability that belies these guys' age. Can they shred? Ohhhh man, I'm surprised I'm still in one piece. It's the sort of ability that makes you wonder whether they are actually hermits, locked in their respective bedrooms and thrashing the frets 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I would love to see Woe of Tyrants live to see if they can pull off a live performance that is even half as tight as this album.

 

And, occasionally, you get a slightly grindy, chunky, industrial-driven section that will take you by surprise.

 

The downside of this album is that, while it is technically highly competent, it sounds like it was hard work for them: you only get the occasional glimpse of a passage that really sounds like they enjoyed themselves: Sons of Thunder is one of these. It's still up there, but there's more passion in it, which is what great parts of this album lack.

 

The other downside is that, yes, the production values are great but it's almost clinical and cold. Maybe it's too digital for me. Maybe it would sound absolutely awesome on vinyl (actually, I'd put money on it that it would!). Either way, it's something to think about.

 

Each track is fairly similar but the thrashy speediness of it appeals to me no end. The occasional track that throws you something unexpected is also rather appealing. But it's not the sort of album you could listen to a lot and have it grow on you.

 

If you're a fan of thrash, deathcore, and some of the epic styles and rhythms that you find in power metal, then there's a chance you'll dig Woe of Tyrant's first worldwide release.

 

Woe of Tyrants' Kingdom of Might is out now on Metal Blade/Stomp.