Tag Archives: classic metal

Friday Morning Metal – Lion’s Share – Pentagram

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Happy Friday, here’s some metal by having 60% or more of a thing, it’s Lion’s Share playing Pentagram. These guys have been shredding since 1987 and got their start in Sundsvall, Sweden. Their themes are inner struggles, pain, and society. It’d be a kick if the songs about society were that society’s going alright, intermixed with the inner struggles and pain songs.

The band wastes no time getting going, with a solid rhythm driving some great riffs. The vocals have a good edge and fun high notes. I dig the finger tappy noodly as hell guitar solo, especially with the soar halfway through. It’s a good solid throwback to the late 80’s metal, so if you want to rip the sleeves off your jacket and race your trans am, this is the song for you!

The video itself is them in a warehouse or chain manufacturer or something. Lotta steam and hard cuts between band members shredding out. Maybe the chains are holding the singer up, he did say his body is old and that crazy is his game. I like the bassist’s top pony tail, makes it easy to head bang and whatnot. Oh and the singer is an antisocial warrior, warrior. The human race is burned by the pentagram. Lotta messaging going on in this song. Some of the hard contrast and digital artifacting reminds me a bit of Painkiller, maybe they’re trying to riff on it.

Friday Morning Metal – Century – Breakthrough

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Now this is some good classic metal. Century is from Stockholm Sweden, and are not the Century band from Marseille in 1979. That’s a different Century. They’ve got a new album out, Sign of the Storm, but I struggled finding a good video for it, so instead you’ll get Breakthrough, from their debut album. Sign of the Storm clocks in at 10 songs for 37 minutes, which is a fantastic play length, be tee dubs.

The video seems interspersed between them rocking out at the studio and fartin around town. Oh and skateboarding in a church. Also I think tour footage from last time they were in the US. Looks like they had a good time, lotta staring at creeks and drinking beer in the forest, seems like. Can’t go wrong with drinking a beer and staring at a creek, it settles the humors.

The song is pretty rollicking, kinda reminds me of NWOBHM acts like Angel Witch or Saxon. It’s got a solid chugga rhythm throughout, and the vocal harmonies are pretty cool. Oh dip they have a lefthanded bassist! The guitar solo is sufficiently noodly without getting too soaring. At 2:49, the song doesn’t waste time and gets out before one can get bored. I like that, also it’s pretty close to the perfect song length, according to this paywalled Wired article from 2008.

Friday Morning Metal – Hansen & Friends – Born Free

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Old dudes still shred! This time it’s Kai Hansen, the founder of Gamma Ray, and then also played in Helloween, Iron Savior, and Unisonic. The song is a bit like Halford’s Resurrection & Made in Hell, where it’s a bit autobiographical about Hansen growing up and turning into a big ol metal grandspas.

You know you’re in for a good time when the song does that slow crescendo into MEGA SHRED MODE. And then a similar vocal crescendo. It’s just balls out for the next 4 minutes after that. Hansen’s got some pipes for being 61, there is a bit of autotune in a couple parts, but I think that’s more thematic than him missing a mark, so that’s cool too.

This is a pretty fun song, it’s also cool to know there is just so much metal out there that I did not know about this album that came out in 2016 until now. Thank you to Bjørn for recommending I listen to it, it’s fun.

The video’s mostly a studio session, but you can see a bit of the prep which is neat. Also the band all seem to be having a kickass time. They even do the Judas Priest™ synchronized guitar points!

So enjoy some more metal!