Krilloan – Return Of The Heralds

Krilloan
Return Of The Heralds
Label: Scarlet Records
Out: September 20^th, 2024
Playing time: 40:14

Krilloan hit the ground running in 2021 with their first EP ‘Stories Of Times Forgotten’. The worldwide re-release followed one year later via Sliptrick Records. The debut album ‘Emperor Rising’ was released one year later via Scarlet Records. Both received many positive reviews. The Swedish Power Metal band was able to build on this. With an unchanged line-up since the debut album, the follow-up ‘Return Of The Heralds’ was released in September. Could Krilloan maintain the high level of the two previous releases? Let’s have a listen.

With ‘Atlantean Sword’ we hear the first great Metal anthem. Outstanding vocals from Alex VanTrue with a catchy chorus, driving double bass, strong guitar solo. The album could hardly get off to a better start. And the next anthem follows hot on its heels. Even ‘Kings Of The Iron Hill’ has great hit potential. In ‘Blood & Fire (Born On A Battlefield)’, the riffs practically pound out of the loudspeakers. Although set in the mid-tempo range, drummer Christoph Brandes does some hard work in places. Great choruses (partly as battle cries) refine this power metal song.  And of course there is another guitar solo. ‘Hammer Of Wrath’ offers a mixture of mid-tempo and up-tempo. Alex easily swings into higher pitch ranges with some screams. ‘Avenging Son’ is the next Power Metal anthem. Once again, the drums are the driving force. It comes as it must. The balladlike and orchestral instrumental interlude ‘The Oathpact’ provides a short breather. This was also necessary before the title track ‘Return Of The Heralds’. Here the Swedes pick up the pace again. A contemplative ballad follows with ‘The Kingkillers Tale’. The vocals here seem fragile at times. The instrumentation is minimal, acoustic guitars and strings. But the rhythm section strikes in ‘We Burn’. Driving riffs and drum passages, huge guitar solos. Plus, high Metal screams again. The final track is ‘Beyond The Gates’ – another metal anthem.

On ‘Return Of The Heralds’, Krilloan deliver exactly what you might have expected in advance – high-calibre Power / Speed Metal. And every (regular) song is a hit. Thus, the level of the predecessor was at least maintained.

Krilloan – Atlantean Sword: https://youtu.be/0RwKJAZS3to?si=nKEVq8eG9BYCVV37

Lineup:

Alex VanTrue – Vocals
Klas Holmgren – Guitar
Steve Brockmann – Guitar
Marco Toba – Bass
Christoph Brandes – Drums

Track list:

• Atlantean Sword
• Kings Of The Iron Hill
• Blood & Fire (Born On A Battlefield)
• Hammer Of Wrath
• Avenging Son
• The Oathpact
• Return Of The Heralds
• The Kingkillers Tale
• We Burn
• Beyond The Gates