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Seconda fatica degli svedesi Falconer. Dopo il primo omonimo album, un lavoro buono ma non eccelso, ecco che il gruppo presenta questo disco potente ed espressivo. È puro e semplice power metal senza troppi fronzoli, non troppo barocco, che contribuisce in ogni caso a creare belle atmosfere medioevali.
Il disco si apre con due tracce molto interessanti, che colpiscono l'ascoltatore. "Decadence Of Dignity", che all'inizio non entusiasma, rivela un bellissimo ritornello. Da qui già si intuiscono i punti forti e deboli del gruppo. Il cantante Mathias Blad rivela una voce molto profonda, che risparmia acuti al limite dell'ultrasuono. Un timbro di voce particolare e piacevole. La chitarra e il basso fanno bene il loro lavoro, senza entrare in inutili virtuosismi. Unica pecca è la batteria, non proprio eccelsa. "Enter The Glade" è un altro pezzo forte dell'album, meno frenetica della precedente, ma che conferma le doti dei musicisti. "Lament Of A Minstrel" inizia con una bella introduzione dal sapore fantasy medioevale, per poi diventare un pezzo rockeggiante. "For Life And Liberty" è un pezzo molto bello, a metà tra l'hard rock e il power metal stile Rage. I toni rallentano con la profonda "We Sold Our Homesteads", anch'essa con un'essenza prevalentemente rock, con qualche elemento più powerizzante. Un bel power metal lo ritroviamo in "The Clarion Call". La chitarra e la batteria sono molto aggressive, che sfociano poi in un bellissimo ritornello, secondo solo alla opening track. "Portals Of Light" è la ballata di turno, niente di nuovo, ma resta in ogni caso una bella canzone, arricchita dall'uso del pianoforte e dalla bella voce di Blad. "Stand In Veneration" è particolare, assume un carattere più "folk", con qualche sovraincisione vocale in più. L'ultima traccia è una delle chicche dell'album, "Busted To The Floor". Ha un inizio un pò banale, ma alla fine rivela una struttura leggermente più complessa, con cambi di tempo più repentini.
Un buon disco per un buon gruppo, che si fa ascoltare piacevolmente e che non cade troppo nel "già sentito".
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 Decadence of Dignity (04:23)
When profit shows his face
our sense of clarity is washed away.
Spinning round the axle of greed,
don't let the economy stagnate
for it's our creed.
I turn my head away in shame
as you crave for more,
selling out what is not yours to sell.
We're the pimps of it all.
Living in the decadence of our dignity.
When silver waves his hand,
we kneel so eagerly.
Living in the decadence of our dignity.
Where man will take command
we'll sail astray in greed.
Come into my booth and trade.
What about the exclusive bargain
for the day?
I can satisfy all your needs.
Sell your future and you will profit today,
do your deeds.
I turn my head away in shame
as you crave for more,
selling out what is not yours to sell.
We're the pimps of it all.
Living in the decadence of our dignity.
When silver waves his hand,
we kneel so eagerly.
Living in the decadence of our dignity.
Where man will take command
we'll sail astray in greed.
05 We Sold Our Homesteads (04:12)
We sold our homesteads and started on our way
just like the birds will fly when autumn is here to stay.
One day they will return, come spring again that's when.
But we will never see our native country again.
At first we travelled through the English countryside
on tracks and on wagons as quickly as birds would fly.
It was a lovely sight to see the land at last
but all the glorious sights kept flashing by too fast.
And later when we came to Liverpuddlian bay
the tears of regret finally started to have their say.
The hearts then started burning in each and everyone
we only talked of Sweden that used to be our home.
We all were packed together in one unhealthy cave
it was as if we'd stepped into an open grave.
The food that we had brought from blessed Swedish land
was suddenly forbidden and taken from our hand.
And when we had been sailing for just a week or two
a horrid kind of darkness was clouding our view.
We couldn't see each other and hardly breathe or walk
it was a gruesome anguish for all people aboard.
The air was filled with hunger and drenched in wretched cries,
the howling and the noises would pierce right through the skies
and death became the ruler that forces us to our knees.
The dead were buried in the horrid fathom of the seas.
06 The Clarion Call (05:49)
All my visions of seeing tomorrow
It's cracking and fading away
Hopes of glory are drowned in sorrow
This distension expels us to the yesterday
Leave the truth to your lust of pride
They fight so brave a heart
Or cast the oak of Endiaside
And keep the land from falling apart
Do you hear the clarion call
It's calling out to one and all
Who will live and who will fall
Who will walk the golden hall
Do you hear the clarion call
It's calling out to one and all
Who is right and who is wrong
Whose side is god really on
What are the alliances and treaties for
As pretenders haven't look to the sky
All the trumpets will sounds once more
And victory will be given another try
Do you hear the clarion call
It's calling out to one and all
Who will live and who will fall
Who will walk the golden hall
Do you hear the clarion call
It's calling out to one and all
Our blood must be spilled
So the nobles vision
Can be fulfilled
The night harvest our land
While the good citizens reach for their dreams
The nation split by force hands
While their pride slowly vaporise
Into a steam that escapes their eyes
A fool is he who can not foresee
Hell is what this our land will be
Yes, hell is what this our land will be
Do you hear the clarion call
It's calling out to one and all
Who will live and who will fall
Who will walk the golden hall
Do you hear the clarion call
It's calling out to one and all
Who is right and who is wrong
Whose side is god really on
Do you hear the clarion call
It's calling out to one and all
Who will live and who will fall
Who will walk the golden hall
Do you hear the clarion call
It's calling out to one and all
Which side will finally prevail
While the other side will fail
How many pretenders can we endure
The land is bleeding so not many more
Who may better the royal swept a sway
Questions, questions
You'll see at the end of the day
09 Busted to the Floor (04:15)
There are too many stones and life is just made of glass. Mark the words of the fool he will tell you the truth, oh so cruel. You say and I will believe although I stumble and fall. Deceived by my own eyes. Trust is a gamble with pain, roll the dice! Give my your confidence and I'll lock the door. Offer me the same and I'll be busted to the floor. Take a walk upon the ice or ride the light of day. Dance with flames of fire, you will burn with the words, of the liar.
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