Hvalross – Running The Gauntlet

Hvalross
Running The Gauntlet
Out: January 9^th, 2024
Playing time: 21:50

The Hard Rock band Hvalross was founded in 2018 in Roosendaal (North Brabant, Netherlands). Two years later, the debut album “Cold Dark Rain” was released. This was followed by three singles in 2023, which have now been put together on the EP “Running The Gauntlet”. The musicians are inspired by such Rock greats as Judas Priest, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden. Reason enough to listen to the EP.

“Running The Gauntlet” – the song that kicked off this EP. The sound is characterised by riffs that push forward. The drums are no less driving. The vocals are powerful. A sing-along chorus crowns the whole thing. And of course, you don’t have to do without a guitar solo. “Mercenary Knight” is quieter at first. It starts as a soulful ballad. Later it gets rockier. The “huhuhu” vocalises are a little annoying. But these soon end. A good mid-tempo song. The EP ends again with “Helios”. Here, too, there is Melodic Rock again.

The songs on the EP seem a little too polished to me, without any rough edges. They don’t come close to the heaviness of the influences mentioned above. Hvalross have played it a little too safe. The EP sounds pleasing, but not outstanding.

Track list:

• Running The Gauntlet
• Mercenary Knight
• Helios