Album Review: Krilloan - 2nd full-length album "Return Of The Heralds" - Release date September 20th, 2024 via Scarlet Records // All Time Metal \\

Krilloan release on September 20th, 2024 via Scarlet Records the second full-length album "Return Of The Heralds"

Band: Krilloan

Country: Sweden

Formed: 2020

Genre: Heavy/Power Metal

Album: Return Of The Heralds

Label: Scarlet Records

Format: DIGIPACK CD

CAT. #: SC 452-0

BARCODE: 8025044045208

Format: VINYL LP

CAT. #: SC 452-1

BARCODE: 8025044045215

Tracklist:

01. Atlantean Sword

02. Kings Of The Iron Hill

03. Blood & Fire (Born On A Battlefield)

04. Hammer Of Wrath

05. Avenging Son

06. The Oathpact (Instrumental)

07. Return Of The Heralds

08. The Kingkillers Tale

09. We Burn

10. Beyond The Gates

Lyrics: Linus Palmqvist & Klas Holmgren

Music: Klas Holmgren

Album Review:

Following the very interesting EP "Stories Of Times Forgotten" 2021 and the even better first LP "Emperor Rising" 2022, Krilloan release their second LP "Return Of The Heralds". The album consists of 10 fighting tracks written with sword and hammer.

Honorable mentions with battle hymns are Conan the Barbarian, Elric of Melniboné, Warhammer 40,000 and legendary tales of battles from another faraway land with emperors and legions. The theme of the album is perfect for the old time power metal genre with obvious influences from Blind Guardian, HammerFall and Helloween.

"Atlantean Sword" the first track on the list is a mention to Conan the Cimmerian (Conan the Barbarian) and an ideal track to start the album. Next up is "Kings of the Iron Hill", the quest for the mythical Tanelorn, realm of the twilight Gods and Kings of the iron hill. This song features guests Jack Reynolds and Tom O'Dell (BATTLE BORN) who take it off with amazing epic vocals.

"Blood & Fire (Born On A Battlefield)", another Conan the Cimmerian reference track, is a masterfully crafted piece with a cinematic feel that makes it perfect for soundtrack of a Conan the Barbarian movie. "Hammer of Wrath" a glorious, power-speed metal for the battle of the Seventh Legion. "Avenging Son", the return and revenge of the 13th son, which is a wonderful and complex power metal composition with an epic chorus.

And we get to the middle of the album and the wonderful symphonic composition of "The Oathpact" which is the intro of "Return of the Heralds" << ...the heralds took an oath, to always return to the aid of humanity..but it was not so, a man was betrayed and tortured in hell and because he was not broken, he gave humanity 4,000 years to rebuild and live >>. This track is a breathless fast composition with guest appearances by Johan Karlsson (EVERMORE) on a fantastic solo and Johan Haraldsson (EVERMORE) on a high note scream in the bridge of the song and an amazing duet with Alex VanTrue on the last verses of the song.

And we come to the enchanting "The Kingkillers Tale" which is a folk composition in the form of a medieval ballad, in which we hear melodic guitar, tambourine and a wonderful key fiddler from virtuoso Swedish folk master, guest in this track, Magnus Holmström (live guest in HAMMERFALL). When you hear this song, you have in your mind the cinematic image of a songwriter in the middle ages, who is sitting around a fire and sings with his harp the story of the kingkiller.

"We Burn", is a well-crafted battle of power-speed metal composition and the last of the album "Beyond The Gates" refers to the death guest Mogdath and is a great composition with epic guitar riffs that are perfect for a finale.

Overall on the album we hear fighting and fast drums, imposing bass, amazing guitar solos, great guitar speed riffs and a vocal storming performance from Alex VanTrue's incredible voice that hits the high notes with such ease that it lifts you up.

"Return of the Heralds" is an album that overflows with epic power-speed metal, which combined with this theme, is so irresistible and enticing, that one listen is not enough. For all metal music lovers!

Excellent!
Complete! 10/10

Photo Credit: Maty Xeven

Selling points

★ sophomore record for the 2022 Swedish classic metal revelation

★ hammering power-speed metal with a flair for storytelling and big melodic lines to get you pumping

★ cover & artwork by Alvaro Valverde/AV Art Ilustracion (Elvenking, Unanimated, Verikalpa)

★ guest appearances by Johan Haraldsson & Johan Karlsson (Evermore), Jack Reynolds & Tom O´Dell (Battle Born) and Magnus Holmström (Swedish folk master and HammerFall live guest)

★ first edition will be released in a 4-panel digipack

★ exclusive limited vinyl version available (300 marbled red copies)

★ for fans of Judas Priest, Blind Guardian, HammerFall, Helloween, Lost Horizon, Evertale