Band : Old Season
Album Title : Archaic Creation
Label : Self Release
Distributor : Old Season
Release Date : 2009
Review : CD

The Irish warmongers of Old Season seem to employ the best aspects of the epic metal genre as it occasionally adds gothic/doom/power/pagan metal elements to keep things interesting.

The album starts off with the Paradise Lost/Novembers Doom-like "Meet me on the battlefield” is filled with intensity and power, this is one of the highlights of the album. It shows the band's ability to change tempos and keep the song intriguing and flowing well. While not breaking any new ground as far as power metal tracks go, the energy and technical skills of Jimmy Blanchfield (Lead and Rhythm Guitars),and Ciaran Doyle (Lead and Rhythm Guitars) turn “Forever damned” into a classic scorcher. Frank Brennan of Mourning Beloveth is slipped into the vocal spot and he sounds absolutely fabulous and can easily stand alongside any male vocalist in the genre. One of his main influences is Bruce Dickinson and it shows. His voice is effortlessly powerful, hitting dramatic notes with ease and just tapping into a seeming never-ending well of power. “Prowler” offers piercing guitars, full throaty vocals and a slippery chorus send this one straight to the heart. Elsewhere, there is the combination of delirious darkness and gothic bombastic beauty of "The mission". With its groovy bass foundation, harmonious guitar solos and melodic nature “Bitter wind” is another spectacular song. Followed by “At the hollow” and “The heathen’s dance” the music keeps flowing in the same vein, with great heavy riffs blended with majestic keyboard tones, what could be pointed as a trade mark in this album. I really enjoy the keyboard work on this album, so I have to give props to Dermod Smyth for providing so much atmosphere and melody. Throughout the album the guitar playing of Jimmy and Ciaran is pure brilliance, very melodic and still inventive in style. In the dramatic “A soldier’s song” we get a great display of Frank’s varied vocal approach, fittingly mixing sensitive and raw styles, lots of aggression in this one.

Old Season have really surprised me with Archaic Creation. Production is top notch and will make your speakers vibrate with joy!

92/100

Cosmicmasseur.