BravePicks 2024 - MORGUL BLADE's Heavy Metal Wraiths #28

December 3, 2024, 20 hours ago

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BravePicks 2024 - MORGUL BLADE's Heavy Metal Wraiths #28

In 1994, BraveWords & Bloody Knuckles magazine was born and here we stand 30 years later celebrating the past 12 months of music on our anniversary! What an incredible ride it has been and it's far from over! And during the past three decades, we've literally seen/heard thousands of releases and this is the time of the season when we crown the finest! The BraveWords scribes have spoken, so join us each day this month as we count down to the BravePick of 2024!

Remember, everybody has an opinion and it’s time for ours! Stay tuned at the end of December for BraveWords' writers’ individual Top 20s (new studio albums ONLY), Top 5 Brave Embarrassments (a fan favorite!), What/Who Needs To Stop In 2024? and Metal Predictions For 2025. 

BravePicks 2024

28) MORGUL BLADE - Heavy Metal Wraiths (No Remorse)

 

A flash of steel, a crisp haunt in the flowing night, Morgul Blade attacks with Tolkien flare in their second full-length Heavy Metal Wraiths. With poisoned tip, the Philly crew are a curious breed with hook-laden, trad heavy metal riffs paired with gravelly, black metal vocals with vintage sounding electro-folky interludes. It’s really odd, but it crushes and has that catchy claw to grasp their victims.

Heavy Metal Wraiths is a 35 minute attack of fantasy laden heavy metal with a sword clenched attitude. Morgul Blade continues to build up their name as the Wraiths claim their spot at #28.

Scribe Mark Gromen scored Heavy Metal Wraiths an 8.5, writing Morgul Blade “truly are a breed apart”; an excerpt of his review below:

94 seconds of "Widow's Lament" is like an old Irish proverb, hauntingly spoken above the constant buzz of sustained cymbal crash. After that, it's back to normal. Does that word have any meaning in the Morgul Blade world? "Spider God" is next, a conventional structure, with more aggression (without losing sight of harmonies). Witness the caustic "The race of man has failed" declaration, just after the midway point. "Some violent imagery in "Razor Sharp", which threatens to go completely off the rails, but maintains, ending with a jangly swirl of ear candy guitar.

Of the finishing trio, two are short pieces, beginning with an 84 seconds of "A Welcoming Hearth" instrumental. Initially, akin to a harpsichord, but transforming into a bouncy moog, PDQ Bach segment. "Neither Cross Nor Crown" switches tact, ultimately riding a repetitive, rhythmic guitar hum: "We're coming for their castles, we're coming for their gold." Disc closes with a 91 second "The Last In A Line Of Kings", comprised of sporadic keyboard notes and backing synths (which used to have a greater presence in Morgul Blade, including onstage.

BravePicks 2024 Top 30

28) MORGUL BLADE - Heavy Metal Wraiths (No Remorse)
29) THE DEAD DAISIES - Light 'Em Up (Independent)
30) MÖRK GRYNING - Fasornas Tid (Season Of Mist)

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