ALBUM REVIEW: Wolf God – Grand Magus

Grab your drinking horns, throw on your battle jackets and cry towards Valhalla, because GRAND MAGUS are back. Okay, they’re not a Viking metal band by any stretch of the imagination, but the trio from Stockholm are definitely one of those groups that soundtrack any good feast and pillaging expedition, and on Friday their ninth studio album Wolf God, released via Nuclear Blast Records, is setting sail into the world ready to find new ears to plunder and convert to their clan.

Viking metal they aren’t, but GRAND MAGUS are certainly a true metal band in every sense of the word. Don’t let the gentle, atmospheric strings of Gold And Glory fool you, because the instant the title track kicks in it’s clear Wolf God is a record that will make you pump your fists, throw your horns into the air and bang your head in equal measure. The BLACK SABBATH-infused riffs on the likes of Brother Of The Storm and Glory To The Brave are monolithic in size and stature, crunching down with the force of a reasonably sized mansion. The classic metal influences don’t stop there either; A Hall Clad In Gold and He Sent Them All To Hel emit serious JUDAS PRIEST vibes, while Dawn Of Fire takes a leaf from the IRON MAIDEN book of guitar solos and throws a few “Woahs” into the chorus for good measure.

A strong point throughout is JB Christoffersson’s powerful, booming vocals, which carry exquisitely across many songs but particularly Wolf God itself, the lead single that also incorporates a nice, steady tempo that does much to invoke vivid images of unholy rituals and sacrifices, whilst the drumming of Ludde Witt underpins the drive and tempo of Spear Thrower extremely well. There’s even a dose of groove in To Live & Die In Solitude, which boasts another big chorus and will sound excellent in a live setting. If there’s one slight negative, it’s that the album could actually do with being a song or two longer: there’s nothing wrong with short, concentrated punches of trad metal at all, but it’s over a little quickly despite its ten-track length.

For anyone who is a fan of the NWOBHM era or the likes of VISIGOTH and SABATON, there is plenty to enjoy here from GRAND MAGUS and whilst they’re doing what they do best, sticking within the lane they have driven down since their inception, sometimes it’s the best way forward. Certainly for the band, there’s no need to do anything different – they know their sound and strengths and, subsequently, Wolf God is another slab of metal goodness that will satisfy the needs of their fan-base and many others.

Rating: 8/10

Wolf God is set for release April 19th via Nuclear Blast Records. 

Like GRAND MAGUS on Facebook.