Release Date: 24th July 2020. Label: Relapse Records. Format. CD/DD/Vinyl
FEAR - Tracklisting
Feeling So Low
Afraid To Live
Loveblind
The Choice
Fear and Sacrifice
Brings You Down
Evil Eye
Exasperator
Members:
Jake Adams - guitar, vocals
Pete Adams - guitar, vocals
Alan Fary - bass
Warren Hawkins - drums
Review:
Fear is the new album from Valkyrie and it’s their first album in 5 years. Let's say on this form it’s good to have the guys back as this album is a delight from start to finish with Valkyrie releasing their best album to date. The band play a more Progressive Stance on this record which allows the band to explore a more Classical style of Doom, Stoner and Heavy Metal whilst retaining a cool sounding Classic Rock feel and flow to the album.
Opening song - Feeling So Low - is the type of song that Valkyrie have built their solid and well-deserved reputation upon. As it’s an absolute blast of high-octane sounds and grooves that brings the worlds of Doom Metal and Heavy Metal kicking and screaming into the 21st Century with a cool sideline of Psychedelic Rock the band first employed on their last album. The song does have a deep “Thin LIzzy” sound but that’s a good thing for myself. As I love that style of classic Twin Guitar that the band employs here.
Second song - Afraid To Live - is a song that starts very slow before exploding into life with one of the best riffs on the album with Valkyrie playing a more heartfelt and emotional style of music that we’ve heard before. The lyrics have extra emotional weight to them with the music remaining more reflective but with a powerful energy to them. I was a huge fan of Pete’s work in Baroness and I was sad that he left the band as their last album was mega-disappointing and contained no riffs at all. However, Valkyrie feel like they’re on a journey of riff based self discovery and this song contains some of the best riffs on the album if not the band’s career to date. The Psychedelic Hard Rock style of music is the main driving force here and it’s an addictive journey.
Third song - Loveblind - carries on Valkyrie’s new found appreciation of Psychedelic Rock and Classic Rock that allows the band to play even more fantastic sounding guitar solos that feature the right composure and technical ability that will make you fully appreciate for bands such as Valkyrie being around today. The vocals and lyrics are excellent when they appear as the band focus more on the musical side of things for this song.
Valkyrie continues their musical expedition to greatness with the rest of the album as the band further explore their winning style of music that becomes even heavier and progressive on the remaining 5 songs. Fear is perhaps one of the most melodic Doom/Stoner Metal releases I’ve heard this year as Valkyrie pulls out all the stops playing emotional and uplifting tunes that will have you reaching for the repeat button.
Fear sounds incredible from the start and the top-notch production values help this album being Valkyrie’s best sounding album to date. This is an album with something to offer for everyone and I’m hoping it won’t be another 5 years before we get another album from Valkyrie. As these guys are one of the unsung heroes of the Doom/Stoner Metal scene.
Words by Steve Howe
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