{"id":19791,"date":"2025-06-27T18:56:11","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T18:56:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/19791\/"},"modified":"2025-06-27T18:56:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T18:56:11","slug":"fer-de-lance-fires-on-the-mountainside-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/19791\/","title":{"rendered":"Fer De Lance – Fires on the Mountainside Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Back in 2022, we were introduced to the epic and trve heavy metal assault of Chicago\u2019s Fer De Lance<\/strong>. They attempted to harness the martial sounds of classic heavy metal and doom and blend it with the might of Viking era Bathory<\/strong>core for an alchemic concoction sure to warhammer the eggshell skulls of the untrve. The Hyperborean was an album that foretold of greatness, but the sometimes awkward songwriting kept it from crossing the Rainbow Bridge and ascending to Valhalla. Now they\u2019re back to fight their way back to the top of the epic metal food chain with sophomore opus Fires on the Mountainside, and things sound a lot different this time. The battle plans remain unchanged, but now the warriors bring a more seasoned and deadly level of skill to the struggle. With influences ranging from Crypt Sermon<\/strong>, Candlemass<\/strong>, Manowar<\/strong>, Bathory<\/strong>, and SIG:AR:TYR<\/strong> to use in their crusade of conquest, can Fer De Lance<\/strong> drive their enemies before them and hear the lamentations of their women? Can they paint the snow red as they plant the flag of domination over all pretenders and would-be usurpers? Stay tuned!<\/p>\n

Opening an album with a nearly 13 minute song takes a certain amount of ballsy bravado, and the title track Fer De Lance<\/strong> drop on us demonstrates why they feel so cocksure. It\u2019s a massive, sweeping overdose of epic metal that visits all corners of the genre and defiles the tombs of their forefathers. It comes into being with stirring but restrained, flamenco-inspired guitar work that sets the table for a grand adventure even the craftiest Dungeon Master would struggle to conceive. From there, things escalate rapidly into bold traditional metal led forcefully by MP Papai (ex-Professor Emeritus<\/strong>, ex-Satan\u2019s Hallow<\/strong>), who brings an enormous vocal range to the campaign, soaring passionately over spirit-embiggening riffs that climb to the Godz on high. There\u2019s a strong Crypt Sermon<\/strong> vibe at first, but around the 4th minute, things take a hard turn toward Hammerheart-era Bathor<\/strong>y and Ereb Altor<\/strong> with MP lapsing into blackened barks. It all comes together seamlessly with beautiful and striking guitars paving the way up the mountain of doom. It\u2019s a massive song that takes you to breathtaking places to meet fascinating people (and kill them), and your chest size will grow by several inches by the time this workout ends. \u201cRavens Fly (Dreams of Daidalos)\u201d is no smaller in epicness, though it\u2019s considerably shorter. It channels Bathory<\/strong>core at first before folksy and power metal elements surge forward. MP adopts a very Hansi-heavy vocal style as things veer into Blind Guardian<\/b> over-the-toppness, and the adroit mix of styles really impresses and somehow hangs together to deliver a world-sized ass whooping.<\/p>\n

Later track \u201cDeath Thrives (Where Walls Divide)\u201d is another showstopper with a darker, more ominous sound and stunning guitar play, and then out of left field, you get sucker punched by a massive Lost Horizon<\/strong> influence with MP moving from blackened croaks to Daniel Heiman-esque ear-shattering highs and power metal saturation bombing. But wait, there\u2019s more! \u201cThe Feast of Echoes\u201d is an absolute winner with a major Dio-era Black Sabbath<\/strong> \/ Rainbow<\/strong> vibe and 70s organ work swelling to generate layers of classic metal extravagance. But that Viking edge is never far removed, and things regularly drop to more extreme depths to add gristle and sinew to the composition. It all just freaking works! Are there weak points in the armor? Sadly, yes. \u201cFire and Gold\u201d is a good mood piece with amazing guitar heroics, but it doesn\u2019t really go anywhere. Closer \u201cTempest Stele\u201d(why isn\u2019t this \u201cTempest STEEL\u201d??) is good with lots of interesting elements rising and falling, but it doesn\u2019t equal the album\u2019s high points. Just shy of 49 minutes, Fires on the Mountainside is a pleasure to experience, and even the presence of several long-form cuts doesn\u2019t make it feel too dense of impenetrable. The production\/mastering by Arthur Rizk is deft and usually allows you to hear what is going on. My one criticism is that there are moments when you get a \u201cwall of sound\u201d effect when everything runs at 11. It\u2019s still vastly better than the mix on the debut, though.<\/p>\n

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There are too many accolades to distribute here to do everyone justice. MP Papai puts on an absolute clinic on metal vocals, ranging far and wide across genres and styles, doing everything humanly possible to put the weighty material over the top. I\u2019m shocked at how diverse and adventurous he is from track to track, and some of those high notes are un-fucking-believable. MP also kills it on guitar along with J. Geist, serving up heaping helpings of elegant, fanciful noodles alongside an avalanche of muscular, macho riffs and doomy harmonies. They leave no stone unturned in their quest to imbue the compositions with a mammoth atmosphere, and at multiple points you\u2019ll be stupefied by the beauty of their playing. The kit manhandling by Scud also must be credited. He brings a Scott Columbus (Manowar<\/strong>) work ethic to the raiding party, pounding the drums with furious anger to summon the War Godz of olde.<\/p>\n

I once predicted that Fer De Lance<\/strong> could be a dangerous competitor in the epic metal arena if they smoothed out their songcrafting. It\u2019s very smooth now, and those who oppose them should extinguish their campfires and flee to the hills. Fires on the Mountainside is the album I wanted from Fer De Lance<\/strong> last time. It\u2019s a wild, free-spirited, and refreshingly over-the-top offensive, and it will roll over your feeble defenses like waves on sea rocks. Welcome your new epic overlords.<\/p>\n

\ufeff<\/p>\n

Rating:<\/strong> 4.0\/5.0
DR:<\/strong> 6 | Format Reviewed:<\/strong> 320 kbps mp3
Label:<\/strong> Cruz del Sur<\/a>
Websites:<\/strong> ferdelancemetal.bandcamp.com<\/a> | facebook.com\/ferdelancemetal<\/a> | instagram.com\/ferdelancechicago<\/a>
Releases Worldwide:<\/strong> June 27th, 2025<\/p>\n

\n\tGive in to Your Anger:\n<\/p>\n