Over the last seven years, what started as part-time cosplay has slowly snowballed into something much bigger. Formed in 2018, European power metal act Warkings are now up to their fifth full-length studio album and gaining momentum with each successive release.
[Photo credit: Matthias Schwaighofer / Schwaighofer Art]
Continuing their journey through the history books, latest record Armageddon (Napalm Records) focuses on significant battles and conquests where the world was changed by resistance, invasion, or an empire falling.
The first of these battles begins off the shores of an island located in the north-east of England as waves crash against rocks, and war drums and horns signal the Viking approach with “To Lindisfarne.” Swords clash as the title track takes over in typically bombastic style, telling the story of the monastery that fell to the Viking hordes in 793AD, armed with a chorus you’ll be singing along with on its very first spin.
Backed by Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann and Orden Ogan, the mighty “Genghis Khan” recounts the story of the Mongol ruler and his unstoppable warriors, and carries another monster chorus. The moody “Kingdom Come” slows things down a little while “Morgana’s Incantation” is exactly that – a brief interlude from the gravel-throated Morgana le Fay that leads onto the fast-paced power metal blast of “Circle of Witches.” “Kings of Ragnarök” follows with pure pulse-pounding drama while “Call to Arms” is a short interlude that segues into the muscular riffing of “Troops of Immortality” before the album lifts off again with the ridiculously catchy “Nightfall.”
Arguably the finest song on the entire record, “Hangman’s Night” features singer Dr. Dead and German act Dominum, and is literally everything you could want from a collaboration of the two bands. An absolute chef’s kiss of a song, it tells of how, after being branded heretics and traitors by King Philip IV of France, the loyal Knights Templar were arrested and sentenced to death. Awaiting execution, some resigned themselves to their fate while others prepared for one final battle.
A Greek term used in the Byzantine Empire to refer to mercenaries, “Varangoi” is also derived from
the Old Norse word “væringi”, which means sworn companion or confederate. Either way, it’s another chest-beating war anthem which will 100% refuse to leave your brain once it enters.
By law, every power metal album has to include at least one ballad, and here it’s the Hammerfall-esque “Here Comes the Rain” which precedes the forceful finale “Stahl auf Stahl” (“Steel on Steel”), which closes proceedings with help from German Medieval metallers Subway to Sally.
Another consistent collection of fist-pounding battle anthems, Warkings hit their target once again. Excellent performances throughout, a great choice of guest musicians, and a strong production makes Armageddon one of the best power metal releases of the year for sure.
Buy the album here:
https://napalmrecordsamerica.com/warkings
8 / 10
GARY ALCOCK
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