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THE STORYTELLER – Dark Legacy
- by Matt Coe
- Posted on 31-03-2013
Back on the recording scene after disbanding in 2006, Sweden heavy/power metal act The Storyteller release their fifth full length "Dark Legacy" independently through their own Dark Legacy Music label. What you’ll get with these 11 tracks is an energetic form of double bass driven power metal, with vocals more in a medieval/traditional style. Acts like Nocturnal Rites, Hammerfall, Steel Attack, and Paragon come to mind the most- the latter especially with L-G Persson’s slightly whiskey soaked, folk-like bard vocal range.
"Uninvited Guest" has a modern, down tuned slant for many of the verse riffs, although the melodies during the bridge and chorus appear to be more in line with classic Judas Priest- along with a highly engaging solo segment that reaches for many guitar heroes from Schenker to Blackmore and Malmsteen. A lot of the riffing and drum parts are tailor made for the sing-a-long chants that audiences at Wacken have made famous: check out "Forever They Shall Kneel" and "Break the Bounds" as you gallop along to this. The closing 8:45 epic "Battle of Yggdrasil" incorporates a slew of guitar harmonies at various speeds while L-G spins the fantasy battle lyrics as if you are deep in the throes of action. The mid-section contains some classic, almost folk-like electric guitar movement from Fredrik Groth and Jacob Wennerqvist, and I am glad The Storyteller explore this element as it’s a strength of theirs to develop a longer arrangement with dynamic and interesting twists and turns (almost in a way as early Wuthering Heights).
For my first taste of the band, The Storyteller will appeal to those who enjoy some of the rougher acts in this genre. "Dark Legacy" is not super slick in terms of production values, it’s more of that raw push that I think will appeal to most who love the genre without over the top ‘cheesiness’ that can sometimes occur with too much keyboard layering or symphonic/ cinematic effects. Welcome back.
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