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Reforged

      
         
         
         
     
             
Zephaniah are a progressive speed metal band from the USA formed in 2005 who released their debut album in 2008 after which the band broke up, only to reform four years later with a new line-up and a new album 'Reforged'.    
             
Take 'Keeper Of The Seven Keys' era Helloween, add Dragon Force and a touch of Gamma ray and the resulting outcome will be Zephaniah. Technically brilliant musicians with a blinding turn of speed, the new album opens with the blistering paced 'Reforged'. Guitars blaze, rhythms gallop and vocals are delivered in a clean and clear style. The twin guitars duel and the screeching, shredding solos are dynamic. With no let up in pace 'Destiny' rockets in and runs off like a one hundred metre sprinter running for glory, yet somehow 'Destiny' is catchy and the chorus memorable and sing a long. Zephaniah seem to have mastered speed, harmony and melody to produce an awesome volley of blindingly fast, yet very catchy, heavy metal.    
             
Eight songs on the album with five chiming in at over six minutes in length with the longest at nine minutes. With so much music on offer here, 'Reforged' is definite value for money. 'Mad Max' heavies things up, but doesn't drop the baton as it hurtles along at break neck pace. Heads will be banging furiously, fists will be viciously punching the air and fans will be loving this album. With some outstanding guitar work 'Road Warrior' enters the fray and majestically strides past with an intensity and pace that will keep your head banging hard. With touches of the anthemic style that legends Manowar pioneered, 'Road Warrior' has sparkling guitar solos. 'Thunderdome' is a shorter song but still packs a punch as it thunders along the highway at top speed, again with some blistering guitar work.    
             
Can the album keep this breath taking speed up all the way to the end? In the shape of 'Quest For The Royal Crown' the answer is an emphatic yes...only after an excellent guitar driven three and a half minute musical intro. Vocals kick in as clean and clear as they have been all album and the galloping rhythms keep the relentless pace up. 'Quest For The Royal Crown' is a majestic nine minute epic that can stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the epics that legendary British icons Iron Maiden have produced. Out and out speed metal abounds with 'Judgement' as it rocks and rolls furiously through riff after riff. Again, the solos scream and the back line thunders as 'Judgement' speeds to its end. Closing the album is a song with a title that you expect from Manowar! The sensationally titled 'Battle Hymn Of The Victorious' is not the fast paced high intensity speed metal the rest of the album is, but more a heavy, melodic and majestic romp. Very much echoing the Manowar style 'Battle Hymn Of The Victorious' is an anthemic end to a brilliant album.    
             
Overall, high intensity, high speed heavy metal played with superb precision, this is an album of furiously fast heavy metal that will bang your head hard.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Divebomb Records    
             
             
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