ALBUM REVIEW: Chronicles – Haze Mage
Since their inception at the back end of 2015, HAZE MAGE have set about creating a completely original brand of riff driven, anthemic metal music with all of the lyrics and themes being based around fantasies written solely by the band themselves. The band draw from their influences such as BLACK SABBATH, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, CLUTCH and HIGH ON FIRE and mould them all together to create a sound that is unlike any other band you are likely to hear in 2019. Following in from the success of their debut EP release, Blood Mist, back in 2017, HAZE MAGE have been honing their craft on the road before heading back to the studio record their debut full length album Chronicles.
The opening song on the album is named after the band itself and that is a pretty appropriate way to begin the album. This track contains everything that makes the band themselves and shows exactly what they are setting out to do on Chronicles. The heavily distorted guitars from Nick Jewett and Kevin Considine bounce well off of the prominent bass line from Scott Brenner and the full-sounding drum kit of John De Campos to create an excellent base for Matthew Consella to throw his impressive vocals over. The front man has a certain swagger and attitude to the way that he deliver his lyrics that is hard to ignore and far surpasses his years of experience in a way that is as impressive as it is charming. The high pace and energy of the song is a wonderful way to kick off the album and gives it the momentum that is needed to entice the listener in to continuing on.
The second song, Storm Blade, then picks up the proverbial baton and keeps running. The pace is still high and the drum work from De Campos is excellent. When the vocals come in they show Consella taking on another voice that sounds somewhat reminiscent of Michael Poulsen of VOLBEAT during their earlier work. However, the real highlight of this song is the duelling guitar solos and harmonies that make up the mid-section and give Considine and Jewett a chance to show what they are capable of.
In the middle section of the album we find the song Preist Of Azathoth which shows the band switching up their dynamic noticeably for the first time and it is a simple as slowing down the song and stripping things back. Consella once again changes his approach to the vocals and switches to a dreamy, hushed tone throughout the verses which have all of the haunting and creepy. This is a much more progressive sound for the band that matches their subject matter more appropriately. However, the musicianship is decent once again, but not extraordinary or particularly ground breaking which is a shame when this song had so much potential.
Towards the end of Chonicles we find the track Harbinger which has a simple, yet effective riff that flows throughout the entirety of the song. The drums and other instruments then build on top and bounce away for the duration and give the listener something to nod along to. In the latter stages of the track however, there is a brief introduction of a blast beat and a concoction of deep growls and high pitched black metal-esque vocals. This is a thrilling section to throw in to the mix, particular at this late stage. unfortunately though it is all too fleeting and the song returns to its mid pace plodding pace for remaining minute and a half.
Overall, HAZE MAGE has plenty of potential and talent to create some excellent, modern metal music with plenty of ability and artistic vision. Unfortunately Chronicles as an album is not a great testament to this fact, as the songs appear to be rather bland and uninspiring which is a little disappointing when you consider the amount of talent that HAZE MAGE possess. Fingers crossed that this is merely a stepping stone on the road to greater things.
Rating: 6/10
Chronicles is set for release April 19th via Grimoire Records.
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