I’m sure I’ve echoed this sentiment on these virtual pages before, so forgive me if I’m repeating myself, but the French have always had sophisticated way of unleashing their metal attack. Even at their most barbaric, there’s a sense of elegance and grace to their songwriting and musicianship that other countries simply lack. What reasons exist for this, I don’t know, but think about it. Sortilège, ADX, Blaspheme: All of these bands boasted a certain “savoir faire”, if you will, that the American and English metallers of the time couldn’t pinpoint if their lives depended on it. Carrying on this rich tradition is Palantyr.
Upon further investigation, Palantyr aren’t a “brand new” band, and their “brand new” album, The Ascent & The Hunger isn’t completely brand new…well, half of it isn’t, at least. Palantyr formed way back in 2014 under the moniker Destrukt. It was under this name that they released their last EP, The Ascent (2023), which makes up the first half of this here release. It has been paired with The Hunger, which is the band’s debut release under the Palantyr moniker, and a continuation of the direction they were heading on The Ascent. What direction might that be? Pure epic speed metal!
From the opening blast of “Shan-E-Sorkh”, it becomes very evident what this band is about. We’ve got melodramatic vocals, blistering riffage, and an aura of swords and sorcery mysticism, all set to a rapid fire, full speed delivery. This formula is utilized on “Broken Mirror”, as well as the closing “Son of the White Mare”, although the latter is a far more dynamic composition clocking in at a little over 7 minutes. I can’t help but think “Son of the White Mare” is Palantyr’s way of saying, “Hey, we can do more than speed!” Amidst the high velocity outbursts are devilish NWOBHM flavored passages akin to Satan, as well as some plodding epic doom bombast and even varying shades of light and dark within the instrumentation.
As The Ascent gives way to The Hunger, “Ravenous” continues our epic metal voyage, unfolding with a gentle acoustic guitar intro, before the band delivers what can best be described as a cross between a battle hymn and valorous speed. It’s as if this band studied the most frenzied moments of Brocas Helm, Manilla Road, and fellow countrymen ADX, and decided to write their own equally fulfilling metal in the same vein. The ultra-melodic “Nosferatu” turns out to be a cover of an ’80s tune from a fellow named Paul Roland (someone I’m not familiar with) and serves as a pleasant palette cleanse, before “Graveyard” closes things out with a bang. Easily the darkest and fiercest cut on here, “Graveyard” almost teeters on early thrash territory, channeling the aggression of Show No Mercy era Slayer and Sentence of Death era Destruction in the guitars and drumming.
For a kind of, sort of, not really, but yes really debut outing, The Ascent & The Hunger is a powerful show of force from Palantyr. They can play their rear ends off, pen a memorable old school metal banger, and do all this with equal amounts of conviction and character. They’re fresh and singular in an increasing age of stale one-dimensionality, and to that, I’ll crack open my finest bottle of French red wine in their honor. Oui, oui!
8 out of 10
Label: Jawbreaker Records
Genre: Speed Metal
For fans of: Chevalier, ADX, Brocas Helm
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