REBELLION - review added 23rd June 2009
Album Review: The Clans Are Marching EP (2009)
For fans of: Power Metal... and rock bagpipes
German band Rebellion have been around since the turn of the century. They have a few albums under their belt already, and this EP serves as a prelude to their next full release... (are you ready for this?) 'ARISE
From Ragnarök to Ginnungagap, The History of the Vikings -- Volume III'.
The band consists of Gerd Lücking on drums, Tomi Göttlich on bass, Michael Seifert on vocals, Simone Wenzel on guitar and Uwe Lulis, also on guitar. Describing what Rebellion play as pure power metal is probably doing it a disservice. There's plenty of straight ahead metal in the mix, and they often head in the direction of battle metal.
The first track (the title track) is a lairy anthemic number with, as the title may suggest, a story to tell about the inter-clan battles in Scotland's history. Plenty of historical figures and locations get a name check, but the focus point of the song has to be the frankly terrifying bagpipe solo three and a half minutes in. A bagpipe doesn't sound great on a good day, and I'm sure this one is out of tune. It's almost so bad it's good, but not quite.
I swear the second track, 'Arise' features Axl Rose in the background. It's a much cleaner, less historical track than the first, but those harmonizing vocals are extraordinarily like the ginger screecher. Good song though, very catchy. 'Ragnarök' heavies it up big time. The guitar sound is huge and Michael Seifert's gravelly vocals give the track a guttural feel. The happily titled 'My blood in the snow' starts off as boring as a meeting of the local badge-collector's society, but it soon kicks up its heels and morphs into a thumping fast-paced metal monster. It's all very Lord Of The Rings, but anyone who has a soft spot for battle axes should love it.
Not a bad EP; this one. It doesn't do anything massively exciting and, to be honest, you'd be better waiting for the full length album.
Check out... Those bagpipes.
Track List:
1. The clans are marching
2. Arise
3. Ragnarök
4. My blood in the snow
Label: Massacre Records
Artist's website(s): Rebellion , MySpace
