Gloryhammer - Legends From Beyond The Galactic Terrorvortex (2019)

There are few bands out there that are as entertaining as the British power metal lords Gloryhammer. Their parody take on the genre is on a completely different level, spewing out music that takes everything cringy about the genre, amps it all up to 11, ultimately creating some good, epic shit. To understand how bat shit crazy this band and albums is, you just need to hear that Angus McFife is once again trying to defend his kingdom against the evil sorcerer Zargothrax and his forces, the rest pretty much speaks for itself.

As expected, "Legends From Beyond The Galactic Terrorvortex" (it just rolls on your tongue, doesn't it?) is another epic display of our heroes and their grand battles. To defeat Zargothrax once again, they have to go to "The Land of The Unicorns", use the almighty "Power of The Laser Dragon Fire", gather together the "Hootsforce", and last but not least, wield the awesome power of the "Legendary Enchanted Jetpack". Jesus Christ, this song titles are just plain awesome, and it certainly let your imagination go buck wild, like how the hell can a jetpack be more enchanted? Science is after all the ultimate form of magic, isn't it?

The songs are just as fun as the titles speak of, giving us enough epic orchestral power metal to last for years to come. There are just so many instances in this album where you find yourself screaming along the music while making big gestures, embarrassing yourself in front of unsuspected people who might be watching, but you do not care because the music is awesome. This is all possible thanks to the complete commitment of the band in their music, going 110% all of the time. Especially vocalist Thomas Laszlo Winkler delivers a big time performance, really hammering in the music into your skull with disgusting efficiency.

As far as progress goes from their last album (the 2015 album "Space 1992: Rise of The Chaos Wizards"), there is not much that have changed. The band stay true to their style, and that is honestly all we could ask for, even if there is moments that are just incredibly silly. The chorus to "Gloryhammer" is just drowning in cheese, but it still gets you hooked in some weird way, even with lines like "My steel will blow you away, fighting mega battles every day". Speaking of laughable lyrics, "Hootsforce" opens up lovingly with "Fight for the king, for the hammer and the ring", which for some reason makes me burst out in laughter every god damn time. It is such a stupid line (and the rest of the chorus is not much better), but the disco beat that accompanies it wins me over. God damn it, the force is strong with these guys.

While "Legends..." is certain to be one of the most entertaining records of 2019, it still feels like a letdown, mostly because "1992..." was such a brilliant record (the fact that it has "Universe On Fire" makes it an instant winner). I also think that the ending track "The Fires of Ancient Cosmic Destiny" just takes it a little too far, both in length and in cheese factor. It is not as disappointing of a finish as "Game of Thrones" was (or so I have heard, never watched the show myself), but it could have certainly been done better.

"Legends..." serves well as a great follow up to "1992...", delivering more of everything, for better and worse. In a way, it is kind of like "Avengers: Endgame", a great product by itself, but its flaws makes it clearly inferior to its older brother. Still, if you have enjoyed the group's previous adventures, or if you are an average power metal junkie, then this album is definitely right up your alley. All hail the mighty Hootsmen of Dundee, and their king Sir Angus McFife.

Songs worthy of recognition: Legendary Enchanted Jetpack, The Land of Unicorns, Power of The Laser Dragon Fire, Gloryhammer

Rating: 8/10 Fires of Ancient Cosmic Destiny

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Space 1992: Rise of The Chaos Wizards

Gloryhammer - Space 1992: Rise of The Chaos wizards (2015)

Power metal is a funny genre. It is a very simple genre that is easy to enjoy, but also easy to hate. It also has its cheesy clichés that are hard to ignore while inspecting a newly released album. It gets even funnier when the band was created as sort of a parody band, bringing up all of those cliches, and adds a whole new dimension to them. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Gloryhammer.

Created by Christopher Bowes, singer and keyboardist of the renowned pirate metal band Alestorm, Gloryhammer tells the story of the epic and magical fights and tales from the wondrous and mysterious land we humans know as Scottland. In their debut, "Tales From The Kingdom of Fife", we got to know our hero Angus McFife, a brave king that defends his land from the evil wizard overlord Zargothrax. Does this sounds wacky to you? You have heard nothing yet.

Because in their sophomore album, they take the battle out to space, and to the future, more specifically the distant year of 1992. "Space 1992: Rise of The Chaos Wizards" is bigger, badder, cheesier, and most of all, better than its predecessor in any possible way. You just have to take a look at the band's new costumes to find out how far they have taken this project. Just look at Thomas Winkler, he has transformed from the Green Goblin's personal knight to the perfect mash up of Iron Man and The Green Lantern. I can only imagine the insanity they create on stage, with the costumes and their characters.

Behold, the mighty heroes (and villain) that makes Gloryhammer

The story here is taking place a full millennium after the first album, Zargothrax has been released from his prison of liquid ice and seeks revenge of McFife's kingdom. To stop his horrible plans of unlocking a portal that will finish off all life in the galaxy, Angus McFife XIII sets out on a quest to gather a mighty army, the ancient city Inverness, and yes, even Hollywood, CA. It all leads up to a grand and epic battle the likes the world have never seen. To say that the band took the whole concept over the top is an understatement.

The story is a fun one, but it gets a lot of help from the music. Because despite using a style that many would think is outdated and stupid, Gloryhammer sounds fresh, being more exciting than a lot of the more modern power metal bands out there today. Gloryhammer helps one remember why you loved this genre in the first place. The epic tales, the powerful music, and the confidence this album is showing are all huge parts of what makes "Space 1992..." such a wonderful record. Almost feels like you are a kid again, searching the CD shelves to find this colorful and intriguing album that sets of a spark inside you that turns into a hot flaming passion for metal.

"Space 1992..." does also have a impressive amount of variation in it, which certainly keeps it from being stiff. We do of course have the more or less standard, speedy power metal songs, like "Universe On Fire" and "Rise of The Chaos Wizards", and they are a clear highlight just because they fit the theme so well. Those are being mixed in with some more theatrical, Rhapsody of Fire like power tunes ("Goblin King of The Darkstorm Galaxy") and muscle metal ("Victorious Eagle Warfare"), but I do also hear that Bowes has borrowed some tricks from his other band Alestorm and implemented them in "The Hollywood Hootsman". A nice little touch. The strongest portion though is when the album reaches its epic finale, with the duo of "Heroes (of Dundee)" and "Apocalypse 1992", two ultra epic songs that does give the album, and its tale, the epic closure it deserves. If this was a movie, everybody would stand up in the movie theater and applaud while the credits starts to roll.

Yes, "Space 1992: Rise of The Chaos Wizards" is cheesy, but Gloryhammer does something that has not been done in at least a decade, bring something new and exciting to the medieval power metal. Taking the story into space is one factor, but it is also the great musicality that should get a lot of praise here for being the strong force that the genre needed. Gloryhammer does look a little ridiculous in their outfits, but I do not mind at all, because this is what makes metal so great, that a goofy gang that seems like they are ready for a game of Dungeons & Dragons can make such incredible music. I cannot wait to see what kind of shenanigans Angus McFife and Zargothrax will embark on in the future.

Songs worthy of recognition: Heroes (of Dundee), The Holliwood Hootsman, Universe On Fire, Apocalypse 1992

Rating: 9/10 Goblin Kings

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Legends From Beyond The Galactic Terrorvortex