Prog Nose review of Wolf´s Return
Vera
Those who are looking for intensity, power and truthful rock, will do well to read this article and hurry up to the music shop. Grand Magus stands for ferocious rock with influences from the doom scene and metal, flavoured with a swampy seventies touch. On their third album ‘Wolf’s Return’ one can find a number of crushing songs that bring out the elementary ingredients of eminent metal.
This Swedish trio has been discovered way back by Lee Dorian (Cathedral) and was promptly signed at his Rise Above Records label. Their self-titled debut full of chunky doom rock was followed in 2003 by ‘Monument’, an album that did not stole its title and it opened many doors for the sympathetic band of Stockholm. Vocalist/guitarist/composer JB is at the helm of affairs and his masterly voice – unpolished but full of emotions – was nominated by the readers of the Japanese Burrn to the sixth best vocalist in the world. Just listen to ‘Nine’ where he sings a bit sensitive and you will understand the adoration of the Japanese readers.
The songs on ‘Wolf’s Return’ are consciously kept more compact than on ‘Monument’. From the sturdy opener ‘Kingslayer’ on, we know we are at the right address for a piece of pure rock ‘n’ roll, which combines the monumental riffs of Black Sabbath with the devastating rhythm section of metal. But above all it is the voice (and the skilled guitar licks) of JB which complete the base, so that it made my flesh creep more than once.
Comparisons with JB’s other band – he also replaces Spice in the Spiritual Beggars – are right at hand, but Grand Magus’ music is more metal based. To describe ‘Wolf’s Return’ simply as stoner rock would be very narrow minded. Right here a complete array of musical atmospheres is forged to what we hear on this album, in a marvellous way. One thing is for sure: it rocks like hell! In the midst of all this energy, one perceives three brief instrumental fragments, bearing a Swedish title. A matter of reflection for a moment.
The album was recorded at the Resync Studio in Stockholm by Oneman. Concerning the lyrics, JB draws from personal experiences and Scandinavian mythology. It is an intelligent album that holds the tension constantly and with ‘Wolf’s Return’, the band deserves worldwide fame. I hardly can wait to see them on stage!
Rating 9,5/10
http://www.prog-nose.org/metal-nose/engels/albums%202005/grand_magus_wolfs_return.htm
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