Mallevs – The Hammer

Mallevs
The Hammer
Label: Floga Records
Out: September 6^th, 2024
Playing time: 40:28

The Greek Heavy Metal band Mallevs was founded by bassist Giannis Maleas (ex-White Tower), singer Panos Takos (ex-Lightning Rust) and guitarist Manos Triantafyllou (ex-War Device). As is so often the case, nothing can be found about the year the band was founded. So, Facebook has to serve again. The first post there is from January 2023, so we can assume that the band was founded in late 2022 / early 2023. In September of this year, the Greeks presented their debut album “The Hammer”.

The intro “Flash Of Rebellion” already gives a musical foretaste of what is to come. It belongs to the better kind of intros. The actual opener “Fire And Blade” really gets going. Highly Melodic Metal. The voice of Panos Takos fits perfectly. In “Barricade Of Steel”, the fast riffs dominate at first. The singer delivers high Metal screams. And Manos Triantafyllou contributes a good guitar solo. After that, “Revenge Comes Riding” keeps the tempo high. And here, too, the guitar solo is a must. “Black Abyss” is a Metal anthem that naturally belongs on a Melodic Metal album. In addition to the riffs, there are beautiful melodic arcs to be heard. While the drums and bass provide a solid rhythmic base. In the title track “The Hammer” you can actually hear a hammer hitting an anvil. But shortly afterwards, the guitar riffs and drums drive the other musicians on. And I don’t need to emphasise that there is also a filigree guitar solo here. At just over six minutes, “Hydra Of Lerna” is the longest song on the album. It starts with clean, plucked guitar sounds. And then we hear another mid-tempo Metal anthem. “Astral Plains” soars into high-speed realms. Once again, the guitar riffs and drumming set the pace. The song ends with the contemplative power ballad “Lonely Dancer”. For the last time, a great guitar solo can be heard, which is also very quiet in keeping with the ballad character.

On “The Hammer”, Mallevs forge a fine piece of Heavy Metal, starting with the intro and culminating in the ballad at the end. There is not a single gap filler on the album. Some of the songs reach into Speed Metal territory. The crowning glory, however, are the Metal anthems. The Greeks have set an impressive benchmark in Melodic Metal.

Mallevs – Fire And Blade: https://youtu.be/JSELF-mlVHs?si=nxGNZNekGLub8InU

Lineup:

Panos Takos – Vocals
Manos Triantafyllou – Lead Guitars
Thomas Trampoyras – Rhythm Guitars
Giannis Maleas – Bass
Konstantin Gkialos – Drums

Track list:

• Flash Of Rebellion
• Fire And Blade
• Barricade Of Steel
• Revenge Comes Riding
• Black Abyss
• The Hammer
• Hydra Of Lerna
• Astral Plains
• Lonely Dancer