Attack of the Rising – Game Changer

When Attack of the Rising’s latest album, Game Changer, showed up on my doorstep, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Here was a CD containing hands down the cheesiest album artwork I’ve seen in a longtime. Keep in mind I said this showed up on my doorstep. You see, unlike the countless bedroom black metal projects that send me promo invites via email, Attack of the Rising went above and beyond by actually sending me a physical copy of their album. In other words, I was now obligated to give it a shot.

As the old saying goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” I’m glad I didn’t because as I popped Game Changer in, I was taken aback by the unabashed showcase of retro heaviness. The opening cut, “On the Horizon”, combines the darkness and drama of Mercyful Fate with the unrelenting steel of US power metal. Singer Kleber Mandrake has a delivery that lies somewhere between King Diamond and Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin. Meanwhile, the guitar work is pure evil. I knew I was in for a treat.

The first half of Game Changer is largely a full blown heavy metal affair. “Island of Seven Skulls” continues the aforementioned Mercyful Fate gone American vibe, with aggressive riffing and passages almost bordering on prog. “Gargula” boasts ultra tasty guitar lines reminiscent of Thin Lizzy set to a traditional gallop. “Burning Daylight” explores classic Maiden tropes better than Maiden has for over 20 years. There’s occasional shades of other legendary outfits throughout, but none of these songs come off as a blatant aping of the past.

Come the latter half of the album, things shift more to the hard rock side of the spectrum. The guitars maintain the metallic quality throughout, but emphasis is placed more towards grooves and swings à la Zeppelin, starting with “Last Stand”. “Eyes Closed” also boasts a strong Zeppelin influence with a touch of Sabbath. The highlight of second half is “Opus X”, whose balance of doom and melody had me thinking it was a lost cut off Ghost’s debut album, ironically titled Opus Eponymous (2010).

By no means is Attack of the Rising reinventing the wheel. These are old school dudes playing old school metal and having a fun time while doing so. Their hearts are in it for the music and it shows. Speaking of “shows”, it just dawned on me I had seen their name somewhere before reviewing this album, and that “somewhere” just happens to be the lineup for the Legions of Metal Festival, happening this weekend at Reggies in Chicago! I wasn’t expecting this review to turn into a commercial, but hey, nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition. I look forward to hearing these songs live in just a matter of days.

7 out of 10

Label: Vanity Music Group

Genre: Heavy Metal

For fans of: Mercyful Fate, Iron Maiden, Jag Panzer