Falconer
Chapters From a Vale Forlorn

THE REVIEW

Second effort from the Swedes Falconer. After the first self-titled album, a good but not exceptional work, the group presents this powerful and expressive record. It is pure and simple power metal without too many frills, not too baroque, yet which nevertheless contributes to creating beautiful medieval atmospheres.

The album opens with two very interesting tracks that captivate the listener. "Decadence Of Dignity," which initially does not excite, reveals a beautiful chorus. From here, one can already discern the group's strengths and weaknesses. The singer Mathias Blad reveals a very deep voice, sparing high notes at the edge of ultrasound. A unique and pleasant voice timbre. The guitar and bass do their job well, without venturing into unnecessary virtuosity. The only flaw is the drums, not exactly outstanding. "Enter The Glade" is another strong point of the album, less frenetic than the previous one, but confirming the musicians' skills. "Lament Of A Minstrel" begins with a nice introduction with a medieval fantasy flavor, before turning into a rocking piece. "For Life And Liberty" is a very beautiful track, halfway between hard rock and Rage-style power metal. The tone slows down with the profound "We Sold Our Homesteads," also with a predominantly rock essence, with some more power-infused elements. A nice power metal can be found in "The Clarion Call." The guitar and drums are very aggressive, leading into a beautiful chorus, second only to the opening track. "Portals Of Light" is the obligatory ballad, nothing new, but still a beautiful song, enriched by the use of the piano and Blad's beautiful voice. "Stand In Veneration" is peculiar, assuming a more "folk" character, with some additional vocal overdubbing. The last track is one of the album's highlights, "Busted To The Floor." It has a somewhat banal start, but eventually reveals a slightly more complex structure, with more sudden tempo changes.

A good album from a good band, enjoyable to listen to and not falling too much into the "already heard."