Tyrant - "Hereafter" (album stream)

Δισκογραφική επιστροφή μετά από 24 χρόνια για τους Tyrant. Ο διάδοχος του album "King of Kings" (1996) και τέταρτος συνολικά δίσκος της Αμερικάνικης μπάντας τιτλοφορείται "Hereafter" κι αναμένεται στα μέσα του επόμενου μήνα. Υπάρχουν αρκετές μπάντες με το όνομα Tyrant, οι περισσότερες εξ' αυτών Αμερικάνικες. (Υπενθυμίζω ότι Tyrant ονομάζονταν οι Jag Panzer και οι Saint Vitus στην πρώιμη μορφή τους.)

Οι συγκεκριμένοι της παρούσας ανάρτησης δημιουργήθηκαν στην Πασαντίνα (της Καλιφόρνια) το μακρινό 1978. Αναφερόμενες επιρροές μπάντες / καλλιτέχνες όπως οι Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Jimi Hendrix, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Scorpions, UFO.

Στα 80ς κυκλοφόρησαν ένα demo και δύο "ολοκληρωμένους" δίσκους ("Legions of the Dead" 1985, "Too Late to Pray" 1987) και στα 90ς το album "King of Kings" (1996). Επανήλθαν το 2009 και ουσιαστικά το 2017 με την έλευση στην μπάντα του τραγουδιστή Robert Lowe (ex-Solitude Aeturnus, ex-Candlemass, Grief Collector κλπ).

Δελτίο τύπου: «Hailing from Pasadena, California, Tyrant formed in 1978 and put out their first demo in '82. However, it was with their pair of albums for Metal Blade - 1985's Legions of the Dead and 1987's Too Late to Pray - where they'd etch their name into cult heavy metal legendry.

Proud and powerful, theirs was steel tempered in the purest and proudest tradition: neither NWOBHM nor speed metal nor doom nor hair metal by any strict definitions, but uniquely dipping that blade into all at any given moment, and given an almost medieval atmosphere considering the ever-changing stylistic landscape during those years, which would be deemed "old-fashioned" as the 1980s came to a close.

It took nearly a decade for Tyrant's next album to arrive, 1996's King of Kings, and indeed were the band even more out of place in that landscape; despite staunchly sticking to their guns, this would be their otherwise-final album.

Just like Tyrant were when they originally formed so long ago, there existed true believers across the pond who were keeping the traditional metal faith alive as the '90s came to a close, as well as a quietly growing renaissance in the States as the 2000s began.

Tyrant's catalog subsequently received a long-overdue reappraisal, and a new, younger generation of metalheads investigated their mysteries of steel. Although never "broken up" officially, the sleeping beast awoke, with the original Tyrant lineup reuniting for 2009's esteemed Keep It True festival in Germany.

Shadow Kingdom, who've indeed kept it true since the beginning, reissued Tyrant's first two albums in 2018, furthering that reappraisal and bringing the band's name to an even younger, hungrier generation. The stage was thus set for a grand return...

At last, it arrives with Hereafter, courtesy of truest believers Shadow Kingdom. With founding member Greg May on bass along with longtime guitarist Rocky Rockwell and powerhouse drummer Ronnie Wallace, who's been with the band since 2010, Tyrant now feature a significant new addition on vocals: the one and only Rob Lowe, he of Solitude Aeternus and ex-Candlemass fame. His addition proves especially significant given Tyrant's doomier direction on Hereafter.

While no doubt sounding like the same band who delivered those two classics on Metal Blade so long ago, the Tyrant of Hereafter conjures forth a classy, ominously melodic style of doom METAL - or at least traditional heavy metal steeped in doom, much like Black Sabbath in the early '80s with Dio and then Ian Gillan on the mic - with each of these 11 mini-epics headbanging forward with power, poise, and a stately sort of grace.

Aiding that granite-thick surge is the production of one Bill Metoyer, the legendary producer who's recorded all of Tyrant's albums to date. Evading any sort of "retro" moves, Metoyer keeps the sound on Hereafter rich, robust, and above all timeless, just like Tyrant's ever-unyielding style of metal. Truly, this is the homecoming the legions have been waiting for!

To coincide with this momentous event, Tyrant will be headlining this year's New England Stoner & Doom Fest, performing the new album in its entirety along with a full set of classic material. In 2020 and beyond, long may Tyrant live Hereafter! »

Band: Tyrant
Country of origin: United States
Location: Pasadena, California
Formed in: 1978
Genre: Heavy Metal
Lyrical themes: Religion, Satan, Death, Doom, Metal
Years active: 1978-?, 2009-present

Album: "Hereafter"
Type: Full length
Release date: May 15th, 2020
Label: Shadow Kingdom Records
Format: CD, 12" vinyl, Cassette, Digital

Track listing:
01. Tyrant's Revelation 4 01:01
02. Dancing on Graves 05:05
03. The Darkness Comes 05:25
04. Fire Burns 06:54
05. Hereafter 08:27
06. Pieces of Mine 04:52
07. Until the Day 04:28
08. When the Sky Falls 04:26
09. Bucolic 04:51
10. Beacon the Light 04:03
11. From the Tower 04:03

Band members:
Greg May - Bass
Rocky Rockwell- Guitars
Ronnie Wallace - Drums
Robert Lowe - Vocals