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The First Crusade

    
       
       
       
     
             
Draconian Remains are a heavy metal band from Germany formed in 2012, with their first release, 'The Start Of The Journey' E.P. emerging in 2017. The bands first full length album 'The First Crusade' followed in 2020.    
             
Delivering a brand of traditional heavy metal, Draconian Remains portray the sound created by iconic legends Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Powering out of Balingen in Germany, this five piece outfit launch their first full length with the scorching 'The Hunt'. Full of energy and oomph, 'The Hunt' is urgent, full of intent, and an absolute barnstormer of an opening salvo... Quick paced and urgent 'The Hunt' is classic sounding traditional heavy metal to get heads nodding back and forth - the head bangers of the world are gonna love this. Adopting a slightly heavier vibe, 'When He Awakes' strides along at a mid tempo pace, oozing a little menace too. The opening double displaying two different sides to the glorious sound of traditional heavy metal, I just wonder how many more sides we'll see, or rather hear, before the album runs its course...    
             
...a few more I will imagine. 'Bloody Mary' ups the heaviness and foot stomps on with more menace than the previous song, and a chant style chorus that the crowd in a live arena will be screaming at the tops of their voices, "bloody mary, bloody mary". Cracking stuff from the German outfit, who have chosen to pursue the heavy metal direction rather than their countries rich heritage of power metal. 'Paladin' returns pace to the album, fairly charging forth with intent. A galloping rhythm reminiscent of the iconic NWOBHM movement, pushes 'Paladin' along at a head bang able rate of knots and will place smiles on the faces of heavy metal traditionalists the world over. The most melodic metal song on the album so far 'Kingsfall', motors on at a mid to high pace, adopting majestic and anthemic vibes as it portrays a sound not too dissimilar to American metallers Manowar. Returning to the slower, menacing style of earlier, Draconian Remains show their sinister side with 'The Voice'. A haunting rhythm and some growled vocals steer 'The Voice' forward, changing pace to become an out and out head banger, and then hitting the brakes. A pace changing thunderstorm, 'The Voice' will keep you on your toes from start to finish.    
             
'In Gods Name' makes a move on thrash metal territory, with a much more hustle and bustle feel than anything heard on the album so far. Harder hitting and much more in your face too, 'In Gods Name' shows an electrifying turn of speed later, to move heads back and forth faster than ever. 'Unbound' displays the glorious buzz style guitar sound so synonymous with the NWOBHM movement. Mid paced and fairly heavy, 'Unbound' maintains the hustle and bustle feel shown by the previous song 'In Gods Name'. 'Purgatory', at first glance I thought might be a cover of the 1981 Iron Maiden classic - but no, this 'Purgatory' dives deep into ballad territory. And for regular readers of my reviews, you'll already know my view on ballads on metal albums - they don't belong! Ballads are for the rock world. But saying that, Draconian Remains do a very good job of creating a lighters in the air atmosphere that will attract rock fans to 'The First Crusade'. Final song 'Hangman', is a thunderous mid paced, and highly anthemic stomp. The lighters in the air atmosphere has disappeared, and we're left with a heavy foot stomper to close the album.    
             
Overall, an avalanche of thundering heavy metal, 'The First Crusade' is an infectious run through all corners of the traditional heavy metal genre.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
             
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