A week ago today, while reviewing what very well may be the epic metal album of the year, Gatekeeper’s From Western Shores, I started rattling off a list of epic metal releases to come in the weeks to follow. One such release was Among Ancient Pillars, the debut full length from Swedish one man band, Mace ‘n’ Chain. The brainchild of David Nilsson (also of Feral, Dwoom, and so on), Mace ‘n’ Chain has made quite the stir in their brief 3 year existence.
An independently released demo entitled Upon the Anvil Formed caught the attention of headbangers far and wide with a pair of original hymns (“Upon the Anvil Formed” and “Labyrinthian Black”), as well as a downright unique epic metal cover of Kreator’s “Pleasure to Kill”. You have to hear it to believe it. Fast forward a couple years later and Mace ‘n’ Chain are ready to strike, this time in conspiracy with No Remorse Records. Among Ancient Pillars is the latest album in the epic metal vein to make its way upon these hallowed pages (pardon my ego). Yet the question remains: Is it epic enough to sit among the gods of yore and titans of present day?
Sonically, Among Ancient Pillars takes its cues from US power metal, first wave black metal, and of course epic metal overlords such as Manilla Road, Brocas Helm, and so on. The production is raw and the performances are energetic, emphasizing the subtle nuances of cuts like the victorious “Bloodied Talons”, tough “Labyrinthian Black”, and adventurous Running Wild-esque “The Key to Ancient Riddles”. Nilsson captivates the listener with his attention to aesthetic and detail, as if he’s determined to give the impression that this release owes nothing to anything released past 1990, save for Bathory’s viking era.
For as thrilling as the performances on this album are, the riffing and overall structures start to become a bit one-dimensional come the album’s second half. Yes, the atmospheric “Fountain of Voices” serves as a fitting epic doom interlude, adding both variety and depth to the mix. However, the riffs start to bleed one into the next, coming off as almost too Mercyful Fate-ish, or perhaps Manilla Road-ish? Don’t get it twisted, there’s far worse bands one can be compared to. As we patiently await Mercyful Fate’s comeback EP/album, there’s nothing wrong with some Shermann and Denner inspired riffage, especially from a faithful disciple like Nilsson.
The point at hand is that Among Ancient Pillars could’ve been more effective as yet another EP, similar to its predecessor. There’s still work to be done on the songwriting side of things, but by and large, Mace ‘n’ Chain is a band with a plan. It’s go big or go home for this epic metal warrior. With the right amount of finetuning, I foresee even bigger quests in the future. Until then, I shall drink upon this chalice of elixir and feast upon the flesh and bone of mortal cowards, basking in the glory of all things epic, heavy, and true, both old and new.
6 out of 10
Label: No Remorse Records
Genre: Epic Heavy Metal
For fans of: Eternal Champion, Manilla Road, Mercyful Fate