It's been a while since I've written a review. I suppose inspiration and free time don't intersect as often as they once did. However, as I've completed my fifth spin of the new Ashes of Ares record and have a lazy Saturday ahead of me, I decided to write down some thoughts.
Despite the fact that I'm an unabashed Matt Barlow fanboy and had the opportunity to hear Matt hype this disc personally (during the interview I did with him for ProgPower), I went into this release with modest expectations. In my eyes, great music is less about the talent of the individual musicians executing it, and more about the quality of the songwriting that underlies it. I find this especially true of Power Metal, which tends to require a lesser degree of musicianship than many of Metal's more dynamic sub genres. And given that none of the members of Ashes of Ares have an established track record as composers, I kept my expectations in check.
Admittedly, the first spin through this disc did little to render my moderate expectations unjustified. It felt like a solid Power Metal disc, albeit one with Matt's powerful, impassioned vocals and Van Williams' intricate drum work. Had I given it a rating based on that initial impression, I likely would have awarded it a 7.8/10. However, with each successive spin, more and more nuance revealed itself, the melodies grew more captivating, and the depth of the songwriting became more clearly pronounced.
The natural comparison to draw here is to Iced Earth. To simply dismiss such a comparison would be shortsighted, as the primary audience for this release is fans of Barlow's former band. Sonically, Ashes of Ares is similar to Iced Earth. Their approach in terms of power, aggression and melody will feel reminiscent. However, Ashes is by no means a clone. Despite the fact that they've shared a vocalist and fit within the same sub, sub, sub-genre of (1) Dark (2) American (3) Power Metal, the two bands are quite distinct, especially when measured against Iced Earth later material. Ashes' sound is darker, possesses greater depth, and is less reliant on formulaic song structures.
It's at this point I'd typically comment on which tracks I count as my favorites. But the truth is, it's a moving target. If Metal bands released singles, I'd be hard pressed to guess which song would be chosen. Which is one of the things I truly admire about this record. Many strong albums rely on a subset of standout songs, surrounded by strong material, but material that none the less feels somewhat less than when compared to the stand out songs. Ashes' debut is built brick by brick, with each brick being as strong as the one it lies on top of, and with no weak points in the wall they construct.
As someone who's followed Iced Earth's career closely, it's been hard not to notice a theme common to many of the departures; Jon does not allow others to contribute to the songwriting. Given the songwriting prowess Jon demonstrated up to and including The Glorious Burden, that always seemed defensible. However, what Barlow and Vidales have put forth on this debut surpasses anything Jon has been able to muster in nearly ten years. In retrospect, it's clear to see that Jon's decision to maintain clarity of vision was more about ego than protecting the Iced Earth brand. What Ashes of Ares have delivered is superb. It's a breath of fresh air in a genre that has long since grown stale.
When I interviewed Matt, I asked him if he considered Ashes of Ares a full-fledged band, one that would engage in a regular cycle of writing, recording and touring. He answered, "Yes". Having heard what Ashes of Ares has to offer, I sincerely hope so.
Despite the fact that I'm an unabashed Matt Barlow fanboy and had the opportunity to hear Matt hype this disc personally (during the interview I did with him for ProgPower), I went into this release with modest expectations. In my eyes, great music is less about the talent of the individual musicians executing it, and more about the quality of the songwriting that underlies it. I find this especially true of Power Metal, which tends to require a lesser degree of musicianship than many of Metal's more dynamic sub genres. And given that none of the members of Ashes of Ares have an established track record as composers, I kept my expectations in check.
Admittedly, the first spin through this disc did little to render my moderate expectations unjustified. It felt like a solid Power Metal disc, albeit one with Matt's powerful, impassioned vocals and Van Williams' intricate drum work. Had I given it a rating based on that initial impression, I likely would have awarded it a 7.8/10. However, with each successive spin, more and more nuance revealed itself, the melodies grew more captivating, and the depth of the songwriting became more clearly pronounced.
The natural comparison to draw here is to Iced Earth. To simply dismiss such a comparison would be shortsighted, as the primary audience for this release is fans of Barlow's former band. Sonically, Ashes of Ares is similar to Iced Earth. Their approach in terms of power, aggression and melody will feel reminiscent. However, Ashes is by no means a clone. Despite the fact that they've shared a vocalist and fit within the same sub, sub, sub-genre of (1) Dark (2) American (3) Power Metal, the two bands are quite distinct, especially when measured against Iced Earth later material. Ashes' sound is darker, possesses greater depth, and is less reliant on formulaic song structures.
It's at this point I'd typically comment on which tracks I count as my favorites. But the truth is, it's a moving target. If Metal bands released singles, I'd be hard pressed to guess which song would be chosen. Which is one of the things I truly admire about this record. Many strong albums rely on a subset of standout songs, surrounded by strong material, but material that none the less feels somewhat less than when compared to the stand out songs. Ashes' debut is built brick by brick, with each brick being as strong as the one it lies on top of, and with no weak points in the wall they construct.
As someone who's followed Iced Earth's career closely, it's been hard not to notice a theme common to many of the departures; Jon does not allow others to contribute to the songwriting. Given the songwriting prowess Jon demonstrated up to and including The Glorious Burden, that always seemed defensible. However, what Barlow and Vidales have put forth on this debut surpasses anything Jon has been able to muster in nearly ten years. In retrospect, it's clear to see that Jon's decision to maintain clarity of vision was more about ego than protecting the Iced Earth brand. What Ashes of Ares have delivered is superb. It's a breath of fresh air in a genre that has long since grown stale.
When I interviewed Matt, I asked him if he considered Ashes of Ares a full-fledged band, one that would engage in a regular cycle of writing, recording and touring. He answered, "Yes". Having heard what Ashes of Ares has to offer, I sincerely hope so.
