For their sixth full-length studio release, Swedish metallers Portrait journey to the land of the concept album in order to conjure up a tale of sword and sorcery set in the seventeenth century. Their first full-blown conceptual release, The Host (Metal Blade) is not an entirely fictional piece but also inspired partly by historic events, with the band imparting the tale of an unnamed protagonist seeking strength after encountering injustice and hypocrisy.
After the thudding, portentous piano intro of “Hoc Est Corpus Meum,” the album kicks off properly with the fast-paced riffery of ”The Blood Covenant.” Guitarist and founding member Christian Lindell strikes up an electric partnership with new axeman Karl Gustafsson while vocalist Per Lengstedt hits notes so high it would probably be advisable to cover up any glassware left out in the open.
“The Sacrament” possesses a mid-paced groove and a big King Diamond influence not only due to Lengstedt’s shrill falsetto but an old-school NWOBHM vibe that tilts towards European power metal. Drummer Anders Persson kicks off “Oneiric Visions,” another fiery cut from the same territory, as are “Dweller Of The Threshold” and “From The Urn,” the latter boasting surging gallops and an even more obvious Mercyful Fate influence.
“One Last Kiss” opens with an arpeggio similar to “Children Of The Sea” by Black Sabbath, Lengstedt not sounding a million miles away from Joacim Cans from Hammerfall while the familiar sounding main riff and shadowy melodies combine to create another fine example of classic Heavy Metal. The punishing double blast of “Treachery” and “Sound The Horn” is followed by the simple but effective “Die In My Heart,” Lengstedt shattering even more wine glasses than before.
If you’ve ever wondered what neoclassical Black Metal NWOBHM sung by Bruce Dickinson or Tim “Ripper” Owens would sound like then “Voice Of The Outsider” goes some way to providing the answer. The moody cut easily stands out as one of the record’s highlights with Fredrik Petersson‘s bass getting some deserved time at the front of the mix. The headbanging energy of “The Men Of Renown” and the raging “Sword Of Reason (The Steel of Revenge)” produce mighty claps of Heavy Metal thunder before the album concludes with the eleven-minute epic “The Passions Of Sophia.”
Versatile, ambitious, and with more hooks than an abattoir, The Host is confidently and expertly performed, the riffs sturdy and the choruses memorable. Obviously, some songs are stronger than others but for the most part, this is a concept album where the music is just as strong as the story behind it.
Buy the album here:
https://www.metalblade.com/portrait/
8 / 10
GARY ALCOCK