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Full Triumphed

    
       
       
       
     
             
Validor are a heavy metal band from Greece formed in 2005 by guitarist, singer, and song writer Odi "Thunderer" Toutounis. The band have released four albums to date - 'In Blood In Battle' (2011), 'Dawn Of The Avenger' (2012), 'Hail To Fire' (2016), and 2022's 'Full Triumphed'...    
             
...featuring a more muscular sound than Manowar! Sorry, but I just had to get the Manowar comparison out of the way early - Odi, the one man metal machine, influenced by the American legends, as well as bands such as Iced Earth, Running Wild, Blind Guardian, Megadeth, Kreator, and King Diamond. The new album is an amalgamation of all Odi's influences, with his unique vocal style having a charismatic, bold and brutish nature. For 'Full Triumphed', Odi (guitar, vocals) is joined by Bob Katsionis (lead guitar, bass, keyboards), and Apollo Giannoulis (drums, percussion).    
             
With themes of war, ancient Greek heroes, Roman gladiators, Gods, and demons, 'Full Triumphed' is nine songs and forty minutes of blistering heavy metal - highly anthemic, and very traditional in style. The one minute intro 'Dawn Of New Age' is an atmospherically epic build up to the albums blistering opening song 'Son Of Fire' - a raging fire and brimstone gallop. Full of thunder and venomous vocals, 'Son Of Fire' is a fairly aggressive start to the new album. 'Man Of Steel' ups the intensity, pace, and melodious intent - blazing a fiery trail across the skies! There's a brutish feel to 'Man Of Steel' as it gallops ferociously on, the head bangers of the world throwing their heads back and forth with incredible speed - boy I hope they warmed their neck muscles up first!    
             
With no let up in the unrelenting pace, power, and fury, the album storms on with 'Strong Winds' - a traditional metaller with a fabulous "foot on the monitor" feel. The infectious level, which was high before, has now risen right through the fucking stratosphere! 'Strong Winds' is melodic, catchy, and worthy of all the raised fists punching the air in delight. Anthemic metal sounds great - Validor delivering it in abundance. In fact, Validor have named their style of metal "Blood Metal", so I'm guessing 'Blood Metal Legions' is for their army of fans/followers. And with lyrics such as "by steel and sword, we live and conquer, as we ride together side by side", 'Blood Metal Legions' is a rabble rousing, call to arms that every metal head will answer. Red hot scorching pace takes over the album in the mighty shape of the ferocious 'Silverhawks' - displaying the aggression fuelled heavy metal of earlier. Validor are firing on all cylinders.    
             
And for the first time, the red hot pace is turned down, in favour of a more mid tempo mighty foot stomp, courtesy of 'Gladiator (Blood On The Arena)' - that is for about the first minute and a half, and then the pace returns with a vengeance. Only for it to subside once more, and that's how 'Gladiator (Blood On The Arena)' progresses on - the twists and turns sudden and sharp. Picking up the pace and flying like a rocket to outer space, 'The Ten Thousand' is a fabulous heavy metal gallop - the head bang ability off the scale, the foot on the monitor feel top notch, and the melodious intent higher than heard anywhere else on the album. No wonder 'The Ten Thousand' was released as a single - it's fucking brilliant! Chiming in at just under nine minutes in length 'Conquest Of Steel' is an epic journey around the genre of heavy metal, visiting every corner, and taking in all the sights. 'Conquest Of Steel' is a glorious end to a glorious album, and one that will remain on my playlist for some time to come.    
             
Overall, fast paced and fuelled by aggression, 'Full Triumphed' is a mighty melodic march of infectious heavy metal.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
Review is also featured at Metal-Roos    
             
             
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