Some of the most prolific side projects in metal history have been the result of musicians stepping out of their comfort zones. We’ve seen thrashers go funk (Infectious Grooves), melodic death metal maestros go AOR (The Night Flight Orchestra), and black metal bastards go motörcharged rock n’ roll (Chrome Division). Today’s review involves another group of black metal bastards, albeit from Australia, not Norway. The name Fate’s Hand isn’t familiar among the underground faithful, but their members sure are. This brand new project features the talents of Mongrel’s Cross co-founder Goet and Cauldron Black Ram vocalist Denimal. Together with additional guitarist Raghallaigh and drummer Langley Smith, they takes us back to the earliest and obscure days of true American steel.
It’s not unusual to hear bands worship old school power metal these days. A good bulk of these bands make up the so called “NWOTHM”. Because these types of bands and releases fill my inbox on the regular, I seldom have interest in checking them out. What can some new throwback band offer me that I can’t already get from Hall of the Mountain King, Thundersteel, or the Queensrÿche EP? Exactly. The rare times I do check these bands out, everything from the songwriting to the musical traits sound so forced and cliché, diluting the very “power” that gave the genre its name.
This is anything but the case for Fate’s Hand. Unlike the here today, gone tomorrow amateurs who bravely attempt to tackle the power metal beast, only to retreat back to whatever hipster death metal realm they came from, Fate’s Hand are bloodthirsty warriors with swords raised high. This is evidenced from their opening self titled anthem. “Fate’s Hand” is a grandiose epic combining the vast atmosphere of Manilla Road with the twin guitar harmonies of classic Iron Maiden. The adventurous musicianship recalls early Fates Warning, before they settled for 20+ minute snoozefests, I mean, compositions.
“Fascination” is a classic US power metal affair. Muscular and unrelenting from beginning to end, it’s an endless barrage of gallop riffs and melody. “What’s Been Will Be Again” continues the power metal assault with a tinge of folksiness to the lead melodies. Closing the EP in a final blaze of glory is “When the Wolf Comes”. This is a victory march for the ages. The double bass drums are pounding, the riffs are sharper than steel, and the vocals have that dramatic delivery characteristic of epic metal. Add to that a colossal production and I think I died and went to Valhalla.
Fate’s Hand stands toe to toe with the finest US metal masterpieces of yore. Matter of fact, if you played this for me blindly, I would’ve thought it was a lost relic from 1985. For all purposes, it may as well be. The power is strong with this barbaric horde!
9 out of 10
Label: Dying Victims Productions
Genre: Power Metal
For fans of: Manilla Road, Warlord, Omen