High Warden
Astral Iron
Recorded live, Astral Iron pounds and pulses vibrantly, deploying riffs coursing and crushing barbarically before leaving wide-open spaces in anticipation of that next addicting slash of ancient steel. HIGH WARDENs tones match their execution - earthen and mossy, grit encasing clarity - and each of the albums five primary tracks ("Burgfrieden" is a hauntingly serene synth interlude that gives way to feedback) lumber forward with epic aplomb and high adventure. The vocals of A. v. Morgue-Gûl are plaintive and poignant, illustrating tales mainly based on individual thoughts but suitably packaged as analogies to various fantasy works (like those of J.R.R. Tolkien), historical events, and legends & myths. Unbelievers only need to hear Astral Irons closing epic "We Shall Burn at Foreign Shores (The Choice of Achilles)" to witness the blanching power of HIGH WARDEN!