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The Plague Court

    
       
       
       
     
             
Gauntlet Rule are a heavy metal band from Sweden formed in 2019 by guitarist Rogga Johansson (Paganizer, Massacre), and bass player Peter Svensson (Assassin's Blade, Void Moon) - the band completed by vocalist Teddy Moller (Loch Vostok), and guest musicians, drummer Lars Demoke and guitarist Kjetil Lynghaug.    
             
Releasing their debut album 'The Plague Court' in 2022, the band tear through the ten songs on offer in a little under fifty minutes. Featuring lyrical themes surrounding war, internal struggles, and horror stories, the album explodes into life with the ferocious 'The Caneham House'. The fast and furious pace is electric, the urgency phenomenal, and the head bang ability off the charts. What an absolutely storming start to your debut. The founding duo of Johansson and Svensson have backgrounds in the death, doom, and thrash metal arenas, but with this new project the pair have definitely moved into the realms of traditional heavy metal. 'Run The Gauntlet' is an eighties sounding romp, planting feet firmly on the monitors and offering great listener/crowd participation with a chant style chorus. The heaviness of the opening double has been incredible, yet the melodic input coupled with the high infectious level is even more extraordinary.    
             
Adopting a more mid tempo heavy foot stomp, 'The Well Of Shadows' is reminiscent of British stalwarts Judas Priest. Delivered at a lesser pace than the two previous songs, 'The Well Of Shadows' lacks none of the albums overall gravitational pull - pulling you into its aural space and slapping you round the head with memorable riffs and lyrics. Impression wise, a very impressive opening threesome - which becomes a foursome, with the roaring speed of 'Runes Of The Autumn Witch'. Lightning pace lights up the album as 'Runes Of The Autumn Witch' storms on, all gung-ho and full of bite, destroying everything that stands in its way. 'Dying For My Dreams' features the first of two guest vocalists - the first, the unmistakable tone of Blaze Bayley (ex Iron Maiden, Wolfsbane and his own solo career). Blaze also contributed to the vocal arrangements on 'Dying For My Dreams' - which has a more British feel about it than any other song on offer. Maybe it's the presence of Blaze, maybe it's the NWOBHM tinged guitars or the old school feel of eighties metal - but whatever it is, Gauntlet Rule are ruling the roost with some cracking heavy metal.    
             
Blistering pace returns to the album with a vengeance in the form of 'Valley Of Thorns' - a fast, furious, and fiery gallop of scorching terror. I say terror, because the aggression and menace levels have just been turned up a notch...or two! I realise there's been an element of aggression since the album began, but it's a little bit more to the fore right now. Title song 'Plague Court' brings back the sound of the glorious eighties, trotting on with all the hallmarks of classic heavy metal - a sound far far away from the band founders previous bands. Entering the mighty anthemic metal arena, Gauntlet Rule deliver 'By The Gods Who Are Not' at an extremely heavy level, heavy enough to bludgeon everyone in earshot with a resounding thwack! Be prepared for a pummelling as 'By The Gods Who Are Not' show no mercy in their thwacking!    
             
The second guest vocalist is Lorraine Gill (Taist Of Iron), who lends her haunting yet powerful vocals to 'A Choir Of Angels' - a fairly up tempo and energetic gallop of melodic heavy metal. I know Lorraine is only guesting on the album, but what a different dimension female vocals adds to the albums overall sound. A definite coup for the band, and yet another highlight among highlights that 'The Plague Court' has on offer. And in what seems like no time at all, here comes the final song - the eight and a half minute long 'Death Will Be Ours (And Ours Alone)'. And a return to the ball busting anthemic metal style of earlier; but heavier! Gauntlet Rule have taken two of the heaviest items on the planet and stuck them together to forge 'Death Will Be Ours (And Ours Alone)'. What an ending to a great album of full on and intense heavy metal.    
             
Overall, a furiously paced, aggressive and menacing, yet melodic and infectious, very impressive debut album of traditional heavy metal.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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