Drakkar – Chaos Lord

Drakkar
Chaos Lord
Punishment 18 Records
March 26, 2021
50:36

Drakkar were founded in 1995 and so they belong to the grandfathers of the Italian Power Metal scene. In the following two years two demos were released (“Sailing Alive”, “We Sail At Dawn”). The debut album “Quest For Glory” was released in 1998 by Dragonheart Records. However, there were already several line-up changes in the early years. And this continues today. The only remaining founding member is guitarist Dario Beretta. But this didn’t stop the band from releasing new albums again and again, even if there were longer breaks. Thus, between the third and fourth album passed a whole ten years. The predecessor of “Chaos Lord” was also released six years ago. The breaks were shortened a little by EPs.

After the epic intro, the guys from Italy really get going. “Lord Of A Dying Race” bangs heavily metallic. Strong riffs every second. And with Davide Dell’Orto a singer who has a slight scratch in his voice.  Finest old school power metal! And with “Horns Up!” Drakkar go one step further. The chorus is catchy and easy to sing along to. During the title track “Chaos Lord” the musicians have to collect themselves for a short time. Then the music strides almost majestically into the ears of the listener, but increasingly picks up speed. And with the epic choruses, guitar and bass solos the band can score again. The degree of heaviness is lowered a bit on “Through The Horsehead Nebula”. Instead, a lot of feeling was put into the songwriting. The guitar solo is outstanding again. Good for the one who has two very good guitarists in the band. In “The Battle” is an alternation of powerful and more contemplative parts to hear. After the anthemic “And He Will Rise Again” follows the speed cracker “Firebird”. Here you can hear high-pitched Metal screams. “The Pages Of My Life” starts similarly, later calmer melodies are incorporated again and again. With “True To The End” a great metal anthem ended the album. It stands out the epic choruses, but without any sacrifice in the basic heaviness of the sound.

I must admit, I didn’t know Drakkar at all before. But what the quintet delivers here is worthy of all honour. Merciless straight Power Metal from the first to the last minute. Wait, that’s not quite right, the nearly two-minute intro has to be left out. The musicians have used the six-year break very well to unleash something great on the heavy metal universe.

Drakkar “Lord of a Dying Race” (Official Audio): https://youtu.be/ddJ0K-VhLcE

Lineup:

Dario Beretta – Guitar
Davide Dell’Orto – Vocals
Marco Rusconi – Guitar
Simone Pesenti Gritti – Bass
Daniele Ferru – Drums

Track list:

• The Dreaming City
• Lord Of A Dying Race
• Horns Up!
• Chaos Lord
• Through The Horsehead Nebula
• The Battle (Death From The Depths – Pt. II)
• And He Will Rise Again
• Firebird
• The Pages Of My Life
• True To The End