FRENZY FIRE

    

METAL & ROCK REVIEWS

    
             
HOME            
REVIEWS            
ARTISTS            
UPCOMING            
LINKS            
             

 

     
   
   
       
       

Streets Of Calimport

    
       
       
       
     
             
Charons Claw are a heavy metal band from Greece formed in 2015, releasing their debut album 'Streets Of Calimport' in 2022.    
             
Founded by drummer Loukas Liato and guitarist Tolis Pappas, the band are completed by singer Jon Soti (Floating Worlds) for the recording of the bands debut album - an album that features strong hints of the sound of eighties heavy, power, and thrash metal. Take the ferocious album opener and title song 'Streets Of Calimport' as a prime example - full of pace, head bang ability and an urgency brimming with a "get there as fast as you can" mentality. And the chant style chorus is gonna be screamed by everyone everywhere - especially a live audience! A simply blistering opening salvo from the Greek metallers, is followed by the red hot scorcher 'Log Out' - and a bustling barrage of bold metal. Played out over a slower tempo than the album opener, 'Log Out' maintains the bands stance at the centre of the heavy metal genre.    
             
And at over six minutes in length, 'Living In The Past' is the longest song on offer, rumbling forth ala old school traditional heavy metal with a very strong "foot on the monitor" flavour - introducing a level of menace as soon as the vocals begin. Charons Claw have been a burst of energy since the album began, fizzing with pace and power - showing no signs of slowing down, as 'The Jackal' blazes into life, adopting a mighty foot stomp, all the while keeping the pedal firmly to the metal. This brand of heavy metal is so infectious heads are gonna be rocking back and forth in rhythmic unison - every metalhead around the world finding something here to plant a smile on their faces! A smile that's in no danger of turning into a frown as the band march on with the heavier hitting 'Gilgamesh', and a thunder fire and brimstone approach that sees Charons Claw crash the boundary of the thrash metal genre.    
             
As debuts go, 'Streets Of Calimport' (the album) is a head turner that makes you sit up and take notice. The heaviness is incredible, as are the levels of energy and pace, the band not slowing down for anything - moving swiftly on with 'Yharasrik (The Mind Flyer)', weaving a varied path through heavy metal land, featuring fast and slower passages, but always remaining firmly and squarely in the vein of good ol' fashioned traditional metal. And booming into life, 'A Second Chance' has more of a doom metal feel, the band finally slowing down and breathing hymn-like majesty and ballad-like beauty over the album. The blend is a cracking mix, Charons Claw drawing inspiration from so many different sources. Bringing the album to a close, 'Solitary Man' - and no, it's not a cover of the song by German metallers Rage off their 1992 album 'Trapped! - is a thunderstorm of all out heavy metal with the most melodic of all the choruses on offer. The final hurrah is also my joint favourite song, along with the album opener and title song 'Streets Of Calimport'.    
             
Overall, a full on and rampant album of traditional flavoured heavy metal, full of energy and a high infectious level.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Vlad Promotion    
             
             
Top