Quite simply, this is everything one could want in a metalcore album. It's fast and heavy, but not at the expense of melody and great musicianship. It's hard to listen to this and not be amazed by the chemistry this band has. Songs like "The Prophecy," "Dead Lights," and "Holy Fire" definitely don't sound like debut album material, but rather the product of a tenured group of skilled musicians. I particularly love the guitar work. Of course, the drumming is flawless and the bass is groovy, but the guitars really stand out as the focal point whenever I listen. They alternate between riffing and harmonizing, and they feel no need to rein themselves in. They're big and loud but not overpowering or out of control. The band even shows its softer side in a couple of acoustic-based interludes, but it's still a pleasure to listen to.
The music of Hell Walker is a companion piece to a video game of the same name. It's an action-adventure game that has the look and feel of something like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and the album acts as its soundtrack. But while the music complements the gameplay, the lyrics don't necessarily follow suit, meaning that one can really dig into them without having to familiarize oneself with the game or its story. There may be some crossover (I haven't had the opportunity to play the game yet), but much of the lyricism is relatable, dealing with pain, loss, suffering, and the will to keep moving forward. For instance, "When the Hero Dies" touches on the death of a close friend and the emotional turmoil it brings, while "Architect" is the lament of a son with a distant and angry father. However, there does also appear to be plenty of instances of lyricism that could apply to an epic video game story; "The Art of War" is a prime example, as the band declares, "Left under the burning sun / a band of brothers who fought for what they love / smiles fade when the clock runs out / eyelids shut when there is no sound."
Again, this is such an impressive album that it's hard to believe that this is their debut. Tyraels Ascension wears their influences on their sleeves - bands like War of Ages, Phinehas, and sometimes Wolves at the Gate spring to mind when I listen to Hell Walker - but their take on the genre is excellent. I've found myself coming back to this over and over again, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
- Review date: 9/16/24, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com
Record Label: Rottweiler Records
Album length: 12 tracks: 49 minutes, 2 seconds
Street Date: August 2, 2024
Buy It: Amazon Music
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