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Sanctuary Of Death

    
       
       
       
     
             
Vhäldemar are a heavy metal band from Spain formed in 1999, releasing seven albums to date across a twenty five year career - 'Fight To The End' (2002), 'I Made My Own Hell' (2003), 'Metal Of The World' (2011), 'Shadows Of Combat' (2013), 'Against All Kings' (2017), 'Straight To Hell' (2020), and 'Sanctuary Of Death'...    
             
...emerging in 2024 featuring a red hot heavy come power metal rampage! The band are on fucking fire across forty five minutes and eleven songs, melding the sounds of legendary bands Grave Digger, Manowar and Rage into one almighty thunderstorm! A thunderstorm that's fast, furious and head bang-able to the max - 'Sanctuary Of Death' one of the best albums I've heard all year, shooting straight onto the shortlist for this years Album Of The Year. Opening with 'Devil's Child', Vhäldemar are quickly into their stride, surging forth with a fire and brimstone attitude - the sound of fist pumping heavy come power metal filling the air. An immediate sit up and take notice opener, 'Devil's Child' is gonna grab every listeners attentions and not let go as the album roars on with the blistering speedster 'Dreambreaker'. And I mean speedster - for Vhäldemar are at full throttle here, pressing the pedal firmly to the metal with a glorious "foot on the monitor" feel! The sound of galloping heavy metal is one of the greatest metal sounds around, 'Dreambreaker' oozing it in abundance, Vhäldemar delivering a level of head bang ability that's simply out of this world!    
             
And with a short, mellow yet highly anticipative intro, 'Deathwalker' thunders into life and marches on with a mighty foot stomping attitude, the sound of anthemic metal pouring outta the speakers like lava from an erupting volcano! And just as hot too, 'Deathwalker' standing shoulder to shoulder with any and every anthem the likes of Saxon, Sabaton and Manowar have ever released. The power, punch and oomph here is just incredible 'Sanctuary Of Death' moving swiftly on with the title song 'Sanctuary Of Death' - power and pace restored to maximum levels! And the melodious intent is off the fucking charts too, Vhäldemar storming on with immense poise and grandeur, 'Sanctuary Of Death' (the song) a pulsating head banger that's insanely head bang-able! I can't stress enough just how attractive this album has been so far, I've turned the volume up twice already since it began - and I'm tempted to again as 'Forevermore' enters the fray with a melodic swagger that only the likes of Iron Maiden and Helloween could acheive! The hymn-like aura hanging over 'Forevermore' is fantastic, the bold, bombastic nature fucking huge! What a superb song from a band very much on fire!    
             
And throwing more fuel on the fire is 'Heavy Metal' - a new anthem for metallers everywhere! The pace and power here is synonymous with the sound of European power metal, the energy and drive behind 'Heavy Metal' greater than that propelling bands like Iron Savior, Rage and Running Wild. Seven years ago when Vhäldemar came onto my radar, I was amazed by how perfect their 'Against All Kings' album was - 'Sanctuary Of Death' (the album) surpassing that one by the proverbial country mile! And it's only half way through! And continuing the saga that's run through every Vhäldemar album since their 2002 debut 'Fight To The End', 'Old King's Visions (Part VIII)' is a power metal masterclass! The pace, power and purpose is incredible, the Spanish outfit delivering top drawer metal to the bands immense legion of fans, not to mention all the new ones the band are gonna get following the release of 'Sanctuary Of Death' (the album). If Vhäldemar isn't on your playlist, why the fuck not? Go get 'em now - you won't be disappointed! And with unrelenting accuracy, the band continue to hit the sweet spot, this time with the phenomenally infectious 'Journey To The Unknown' - the melodious intent one hundred percent perfect! And that chorus too, "fighting together with power and might, standing forever we'll conquer the night" - simply outstanding and overly sumptuous!    
             
And for a while now I've wanted to say "the best song heard so far", but each and every one that passes by is deserving of being labelled as the best - I cannot choose just one! Anyway, a superb album roars on with 'Brothers', the band battering listeners with a glorious array of heavy come power metal, the phenomenal intensity as powerful as it has always been. Have Vhäldemar produced the Album Of The Year? Quite possibly so, for 'Sanctuary Of Death' (the album) is gonna be hard to beat - although the shortlist for the title is anything but short! There's been so much great metal released so far this year - and there's still another six months to go! I'm just glad I don't have to choose the winner, for if I did, it'd be a tie between so many that the award ceremony would go on for days! Possibly weeks! But back to the here and now, Vhäldemar maintain their winning formula with the all out head banger 'The Rebel's Law', and a return of the incredible urgency heard earlier! The drive here is top notch, the band in top gear as 'The Rebel's Law' displays a jaw dropping rabble rousing call to arms nature! Cause when you look at the lyrics - and I'd love to quote some of them here but I just can't choose which ones as they're all rabble rousing! Kudos Vhäldemar, kudos! And bringing the album to a close, the band opt for an instrumental - but not the slow wandering kind! Hell no! 'Cause even though 'The Last Flame' has a mellow and very serene lead in for the first minute and a half, Vhäldemar hit hard just like every other song on offer, the crescendo of heavy metal that is 'The Last Flame' a fitting end to a fantastic album.    
             
Overall, Vhäldemar deliver a superb album of incredible pace and power with an immense infectious level and a tonne of head bang ability.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for The Metallist PR    
             
             
Other Reviews    
             

           
           
Against All Kings      
           
"the nearest to perfection you will ever get in a power metal album, Vhaldemar have delivered an exciting and breath taking journey of brilliance" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             

           
           
Hell Is On Fire (single)      
           
"an infectious melodic power metal anthem, featuring a catchy sing a long chant style chorus" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             

           
           
Straight To Hell      
           
"a blistering rampage of power metal from a band performing at the top of their game, 'Straight To Hell' is a cracking album" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             
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