HER CHARIOT AWAITS – Her Chariot Awaits
- Posted on 02-06-2020
The relatively new act named Her Chariot Awaits released its self-titled debut offering a few days ago and these skilled musicians have churned out a bombastic and sharp-sounding blend of metal and hard rock with a modern sheen to it. There is an emphasis on infectious melodies, big choruses, orchestrated passages, and the charismatic vocals of Ailyn (ex-Sirenia), and on top of that, there is a subtle pop sensibility in play here as nearly every verse, chorus, and bridge is catchy and easy on the ear. In that sense, it is all rather straightforward and digestible without anything complex or convoluted going on as such, but a few of the songs do boast some decent twists and turns, namely “Constant Craving” and “Line of Fire”, and the record is neither without substance nor texture.
The cool thing about “Her Chariot Awaits” is that the band’s approach to hard rock and metal is interesting and slightly different to what countless other acts out there do. Also, the way in which some of the tunes evoke and then slide between various moods ranging from melancholy to rage and everything in between is commendable. Some of the gothic undertones that shimmer underneath the material also add flavor to the mix. On a less positive note, the male vocals are borderline atrocious, and the entire thing does come across as a little stiff-sounding thanks to the sound and production, which in turn deadens the atmosphere a tad. The standouts are the aforementioned “Constant Craving” and “Line of Fire” where aggression and sophistication are nicely intertwined and beautifully woven together, thereby creating something that is both energetic and emotionally charged.
“Her Chariot Awaits” is thunderous at times and there are some good harmonies, blistering solos, and great ideas scattered across its eleven tracks, but all in all, it does not quite manage to captivate or intrigue me and it loses its momentum a little too often, which is frustrating.