Early this past March, power metal outfit Alterium released its debut album, Of War and Flames through AFM Records. Formed by former members of Kalidia and current members of Draconicon and Altair in 2022, the band’s first outing together is a record that any power metal enthusiast will agree is worth hearing at least once, as is evidenced in part through its featured musical arrangements. The lyrical themes that accompany the record’s musical arrangements make for their own interest and will be examined a little later. The record’s production rounds out the most important of the album’s elements, bringing everything full circle. Each item noted is key in its own way to the whole of the album’s presentation. All things considered they make Of War and Flames maybe not a standout addition to this year’s field of new power metal records, but still an album worth hearing at least once.
Of War and Flame, the debut album from Alterium is a work that most power metal fans will find worth hearing at least once. That is due in large part to its featured musical arrangements. From beginning to end, the 10 total arrangements that are exhibited throughout the record are everything that power metal fans have come to expect from most bands in the genre. The blend of the heavy, melodic guitar lines and the vocals of front woman Nicoletta Rosellini (ex-Kalidia) and the richness of the rhythm section (bassist Luca Scalabrin and drummer Dario Gozzi), the arrangements are easily comparable to works from the likes of fellow female-fronted power metal acts Visions of Atlantis and Amaranthe. This applies even in the band’s cover of Sabaton’s hit single, ‘Bismarck.’ One could even argue a similarity in sound and style to works from Epica. In other words, the soaring, symphonic approaches taken to each arrangement do not exactly break any new ground for the power metal world. Even with that in mind though, the arrangements will still appeal to the most devoted power metal fans.
Keeping this in mind, the lyrical themes that Alterium presents throughout its new album prove noteworthy in their own right. Right from the record’s opener, ‘Drag Me To Hell,’ audiences get a song whose theme is actually fantasy in root. Rosellini said in a prepared statement late last year about the song, it centers, lyrically on “themes related to the world of Warcraft.” More specifically, she said of the story herein, “In this track, we tell part of the story of heroic paladin Bolvar Fordragon, who after surviving dragon’s flames, makes the ultimate sacrifice of sitting upon the Frozen Throne, becoming the Ruler of the Scourge.” How many bands or acts in general out there have based any of their music on the World of Warcraft? Exactly. So to that end, crafting an entire song centered on a fantasy role playing game (RPG) for a metal song is relatively unique. It is certain to generate plenty of its own niche attention from audiences.
‘Crossroads Inn,’ another single featured in the band’s new album, is another example of the role of the album’s lyrical themes. In the case of this song, the theme is once again centered on a video game. In the case the game in question is of the same name. Rosellini said of the song’s lyrical content, “I believe that power metal is the perfect genre to convey the funny atmosphere of a typical night at the tavern. We also recreated the whole scenery in our new music video.” The video in question premiered in January. So here again is a song whose theme is lighthearted and a notable change of pace or audiences. No social commentary. No themes of relationships. Just a lighthearted song about a video game.
Of course, the band does turn things more serious in the album’s finale, its cover of Sabaton’s ‘Bismarck.’ This song, which remains today a standalone single from the famed power metal veteran act, centers on the infamous German warship. For those who may not be familiar, Sabaton was not necessarily celebrating the warship and its destructive power. Rather the band, whose songs all focus on military history, simply focuses on the ship and its history. Alterium does much the same here in its take on the hit single. It is just one more example of what makes Of War and Flames’ lyrical content stand out against the otherwise familiar musical content. Knowing how much the lyrical themes stand out, they give listeners reason enough to take in this record even more than the album’s musical arrangements.
The musical arrangements featured throughout the album do not sink it, but do not make it stand out, either. The lyrical themes however, do, to a point. Knowing this, the two elements collectively make for at least some interest in the album. Knowing the engagement and entertainment that the two items will bring, there is at least one more item to address, that being the record’s production. Those charged with the record’s production are to be commended for their work balancing all of the instrumentation and vocals in each song. The orchestral pieces and heavier rock-related instrumentation compliment each other well in each song. At the same time, those elements do well to work with the vocals to ensure the vocals are never washed out at any point. To that end, the result is a mostly positive aesthetic that is sure to keep listeners engaged in its own way. Keeping the positive result of the production and the intrigue ensured through the album’s lyrical themes, those two elements work with the relatively familiar style power metal arrangements to make the album in whole a record that most power metal fans will find worth hearing at least once.
Of War and Flames, the debut album from Alterium, is a stable start for the band. That is due in part to its musical arrangements. The arrangements in question are works that are quite familiar among most power metal circles. They do not necessarily break any new ground for the genre but are still engaging. The record’s lyrical themes are even more certain to engage audiences because of their uniqueness. From themes centered on video games to a cover that covers much more serious ground and more, the themes are the real foundation for the record. The album’s production puts the finishing touch to the album, ensuring balance in each musician’s work with that of his band mates. Each item examined here is important in its own way to the whole of Of War and Flames. All things considered they make this record maybe not a “power-ful” start for Alterium but still a record that power metal fans will find worth hearing at least once.
Of War and Flames is available now through AFM Records. More information on the album is avail of Alterium’s latest news at:
Website: https://alterium.band
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/alterium_band
