Validor-In Blood In Battle

“The Riddle of Steel,”kicks off In Blood In Battle the debut album from Validor. It is a song that slowly builds up. The vocals and the guitars weave themselves together to get the listener into a suitably interested state and as the chorus vocals begin to slowly shift into being, the listener is given the sense of something epic about to happen. That feeling is confirmed when the crescendo comes.

“Sword of Vengeance,” builds on the opening track and truly shows off what Validor are capable of. The song contains some fabulous rhythm gallops and an interesting lead over the top. As the song progresses, one is given the feeling of a long form narrative being created and handed to the listener. The increase in tempo when the vocals kick in is further proof of that.

“The Last Emperor,” is an interesting mix of calm melodic rhythms and furious riffage. It is not a gallop, but rather an onslaught. A song that batters in at the head of the listener and ensures that they are forced to bang their head as they contemplate just who the Last Emperor is.

“Stealer of Souls,” another song that kicks the pace up several notches. A furious rhythm section gives way to blinding vocals as Validor really show their worth. There is a press and a push and then the throttle is pushed down further.

“Through the Storm,” has a fantastic bass gallop, one that is imprinted within the mind of the listener and is sure to expand their horizons as time progresses. The song is a true mishmash of different elements that ultimately blend together to create something damn near perfection.

“The Dark Tower,” is a furious and frenetic retelling of the past and of grievous threats to humanity. A song that moves at a gallop and gets the breakdowns just perfect. This is some good stuff by Validor.

“Stormbringer,” is pure epicness. A song that weaves within the textures of the mind and delivers a crucial knock to the gut of all those present. A song that mixes different tenors and tones into one that really allows the vocals to shine through.

“Wrath of Steel,” is simply epic. A song that combines strands from earlier songs and adds a new touch to them. The keys and the orchestral feeling in the intro giving way to the shotgun riff is a beautiful touch. It really adds to the sense that there is chaos around the corner.

“In Blood In Battle,” starts off melodically. The guitars and vocals follow a similar rhythm before moving out into insanity, a perfect finisher by Validor.

The album is out now via Symmetric Records.