Emerald: Requiem

Forming in 1984 and after a thirty year break, the Tucson based heavy metal band Emerald got back into the game in 2014 with the release of their debut album Metal Redemption. A sudden burst of creativity led to the release of The Harvest (2015), Angels of Oblivion (2017) and their latest endeavor titled Requiem. I would say four albums in five years is pretty darn good and what’s even better is the quality of the last two releases. I found Angels of Oblivion to be an excellent disc and the same holds true for their latest platter.

The band’s lineup remains the same:

Jeff Melin (guitars and vocals)
Duane Hollis (bass guitar and backing vocals)
Will Jones (drums)

Requiem is a major riff fest so if that’s in your wheelhouse you have come to the right place. Thick and heavy, sometimes slow to mid paced ala Black Sabbath or faster tempos, sometimes a galloping style recalling Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. They have a very retro sound so don’t expect a reinvention of the wheel. What this band do they do very well and at the very least I can say they have been influenced by some of the best metal of the last forty years. Add to that excellent Ozzy-like vocals, catchy choruses and a powerful rhythm section, well, there is lots to love here. You get a prime feel for the album from the first two tracks; “Endless War� and “Against the Wall�. The first has a doomy Sabbath-like sound with a stellar groove and ripping lead guitar. The second track veers into Priest and Maiden territory with a faster tempo and the occasional run away riff progression. It even gets better with the third track “Eye to Eye� beginning with a nice keyboard intro but turns heavy quickly with razor-like riffs and vocals harkening back to the early days of Blue Oyster Cult. A very cool track for sure.

Chalk up another excellent release from Emerald, a band who seems to be firing on all cylinders. Hats off to these veteran musicians who continue to impress after each and every release. Highly recommended.

Track Listing:
1. Endless War
2. Against the Wall
3. Eye to Eye
4. Inescapable
5. Tir de Masse
6. Out of the Light
7. Promised Land
8. Without a Stone

Added: January 3rd 2019
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band's Facebook Page
Hits: 1033
Language: english

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