Storms Of War

Review by David Pearce

Artist – Katana
Album – Storms Of War
Label – Rambo/Sony Music / Listenable Records / Marquee/Avalon Records
Year – 2012

Track Listing

1. The Reaper
2. Wrath Of The Emerald Witch
3. Khubilai Khan
4. The Samurai Returns
5. City On The Edge Of Forever
6. No Surrender
7. In The Land Of The Sun
8. The Gambit
9. Modesty Blaise
10. The Wisdom Of Emonds Field

2011 was a busy year for Sweden-based traditional heavy metallers KATANA. Since the release of their début album “Heads Will Roll” last spring, KATANA not only found time to tour with both the likes of Where Angels Suffer, featuring Chris Holmes and Stet Howland (ex-W.A.S.P.) and American metal legends Lizzy Borden. They also entered the studio to record their second album, entitled “Storms of War“. Hailing from Gothenburg, Sweden, KATANA has been around for several years and has already made a great name for themselves in the underground metal scene of Sweden and Europe. In 2010, the band won the prestigious Wacken Metal Battle in which earned them a slot at the Wacken Open Air, as well as the Sweden Rock Festival. Their début album has been critically acclaimed all over the world, and Malcolm Dome of Classic Rock Magazine wrote: “This quintet will make a significant mark. This début is only the beginning of what should be a thrilling march”. With the new album, “Storms of War“, produced by King Diamond guitarist Andy La Rocque, KATANA means to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that classic heavy metal in the veins of early Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Saxon is here to stay!

The album starts off with The Reaper starts off with a cracking heavy riff aswell you can hear straight away who this band is influenced by the way they power through the song. Which I might add is just like the classic heavy metal bands like Judas Priest which this song really has the big influence from cracking start to the album. The next Two songs are Wrath Of The Emerald Witch and Khubilai Khan, the first of the Two songs has a very Iron Maiden feel to it but then the powerful vocals come in and again you can hear another different band in there as well it is quite captivating. The riffs are superb and the solos are outstanding just what you need in a classic song. The Second of the songs Khubilai Khan is again very influenced by the classic bands it has the same sort of feel that you used to get when you first heard the classic bands of the time powerful galloping riffs and solos, good heavy drumming and quality vocals. The Fourth song is The Samurai Returns this is another quality song it has all the hallmarks of a classic song it has the galloping beats captivating riffs and solos the vocals are just brilliant. The next Two songs are City On The Edge Of Forever and No Surrender both of these songs have that galloping beat to them which serves the band very well indeed. The songs themselves are full of quality vocals, guitar work and they keep the intensity going right through the songs it never lets up I am only halfway through the album and my neck is aching already but I am loving it. The Seventh song is In The Land Of The Sun starts off with a bass riff with a guitar riff over the top it is a slower tempo than the other songs the vocals are lower that usual. But that all changes in an instant the tempo rises and the full-blown classic riffs come flooding through and the vocals come powering with that high tempo that the album has been built upon classic stuff this. The Eighth and Ninth songs are The Gambit and Modesty Blaise both of these songs are full on classic style songs full of heavy quality riffs and rundowns the solos are superb and the vocals well what can I say but wow again they are top class. The final song on the album is The Wisdom Of Emonds Field starts off with a very Iron Maiden feel riff in the way that they have done it but still pure class the riffs in the song are very Maiden influenced. At the start and later in the song, The vocals are as perfect as they can get this is a real good solid ending to the album. There is a solo in the middle of the song, which is absolute stunning as the tempo drops during it then again the tempo rises to give the song a good solid ending which has been perfectly done.

Overall

This album which was produced by King Diamond guitarist Andy La Rocque really has a good solid classic heavy metal feel to it. If you like the classic bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest then this band is right up there. It is a truly classic album of wondrous proportions it has it all galloping drums, soaring vocals, stunning captivating riffs and solos it has been a joy to rock to this album. If they can produce another album like this I am sure we will get to hear a lot more from this band in the future. Great Solid Album!

8/10