ALBUM REVIEW: Over The Hills – Forlorn Hope

Having worked for several years to bring this all together, Merseyside troupe FORLORN HOPE pay musical homage to the Peninsular Wars of the 19th Century into their debut album Over The Hills. Promising hook-filled heavy metal augmented by dramatic lyrical concepts, will Over The Hills be the album that marches them to victory or will it see them wavering and anxious to flee the battlefield?

Like the trudging footsteps of a regiment marching to fight, Vive L’Empereur signals the coming onslaught with vocal driven fury. Rifles exhibits a rough mix of early power metal and New Wave of British Heavy Metal in a style that replicates the now-historical concept but falls short of any memorable hooks. Fitting together like musket and bayonet, Talavera intertwines wailing vocals, screeching guitar solos and clear-cut symphonic chords to boost delivery. War In The Shadows and The Eagle Hunters do more to solidify the musical identity with regimental precision – consistent volleys of meticulous guitar assaults, cheese-laced vocal structure and IRON MAIDEN-esque rhythm that gallops from ear to ear.

Despite the seriousness of the military history, FORLORN HOPE give off a tongue and cheek attitude that dilutes the stories significance somewhat, in the same way that ALESTORM are more of a laugh than a lecture in history. Die Hard shoots short but effective barrages of hooks like a howitzer while Badajoz is a daring lament to soldiers sacrifice and another opportunity to pummel the listener with guitar virtuoso. Man Of Secrets, Man Of Honour pays regular tributes of keyboard-fuelled fury and comical chants before Masterstrike develops a cheerful escapade of truly POWERWOLF proportions. Its certain by this point that FORLORN HOPE are aiming to educate the masses through humour instead of hooks but there’s a growing audience for bands like this and with bigger production this concept could certainly attract a fanatical following.

Almost in the same way that reinforcements would flock towards the fray of battle to solidify victory, Vitoria brings together what has previously been showcased while leaving a lasting impression of exactly what and who FORLORN HOPE are. After an interestingly charming cover of Over The Hills And Far Away the daring dragoons heed the call one final time as FORLORN HOPE draws this unusually entertaining album to a close.

FORLORN HOPE are successful in merging key components of NWOBHM with the furious glamour of power metal, yet do so in a way that can appear comical and niche. While pursuing a very serious and important historical content, the band doesn’t conjure enough memorable hooks to educate us about the history in the same way that Swedish masters SABATON do. That being said, the musicianship on Over The Hills is commendable; every guitar solo pushes beyond expectations and the regular volleys of galloping verses keeps the music energetic and regimental. If you are the type to raise your fist and wave your hair gallantly in the wind then FORLORN HOPE are the band for you, just don’t expect too much of a history lesson in the process.

 Rating: 7/10

Over The Hills is out now via self release. 

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