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When it comes to Epic Metal, people usually mention Manowar. This is absolutely right, the records released between 1983 and 1988 are authentic pillars of the genre, but what some people find difficult to do is try to broaden their horizons. Sometimes, we tend to ignore other options because we feel somewhat "safe" with what we are currently listening to. Well, nothing could be more wrong. I remember a couple of years ago, when I was in the same situation, listening to just one genre, the most renowned and usually known one, thinking that there was nothing better in the world. But fortunately, humans have the gift of curiosity, and after some research, I discovered a band called "Virgin Steele," creators of an Epic Metal with romantic, symphonic, and elegant nuances. And how on earth is that possible, I wondered?
Founded back in 1981, the group led by frontman David Defeis and guitarist Edward Pursino, Virgin Steele contributed to the birth of more harmonious Epic Metal, always characterized by great power, but also embracing classical music, which perfectly intertwined with Defeis's once splendid voice. Albums like "Noble Savage" (1985) and the saga of the two "The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell" (1994/1995) are proof of this, and it is from these last two that I want to start introducing the album I am going to review. Released after the critically and commercially failed, though good, "Life Among The Ruins" (1993), Virgin Steele found themselves in a critical situation. As mentioned, the cited album offered a sound closer to early '70s blues/hard rock, which was not well received by either fans or critics, also counting very low sales numbers. But as the saying goes, "The hero is not the one who never falls, but the one who, having fallen, finds the strength to rise again."
Born as the final chapter of the trilogy on the war between gods and men, 1998 saw the release of "Invictus", which represents perhaps the musical and compositional peak in Virgin Steele's discography. Accompanied by a cover that already foreshadows everything, the album features various songs, all structured differently from each other, and therefore only arouses more interest, making us forget the simple verse-chorus, solo, and chorus-based songs.
The album alternates more direct and rocky tracks like "Dust From The Burning", "Through Blood And Fire", and the Title Track, in which drummer Frank Gilchriest's work is noteworthy, with more complicated and evocative pieces like "Sword Of The Gods" (with a fantastic solo), or "Whisper Of Death" which thanks to Defeis's voice, help to create a simply unique atmosphere, and when reading the lyrics, can only give you goosebumps. Especially on the lyrics, you can notice the careful work of the frontman to create an album that was perfect from every point of view, and above all, best represented the story behind the album. A special mention goes to two pieces that left me speechless when I first listened to the album. I'm talking about "Mind, Body, Spirit", in which the heavier side of Virgin Steele dominates the first part, and the second transitions to an atmosphere that can be described in just one word, angelic. Gentle guitar chords, symphonic instruments, and Defeis's voice contribute to giving the piece a truly rare classicism in the genre. The second song is the album's last, "Veni, Vidi, Vici", characterized by changes of tempo, at times more aggressive, other times symphonic, in which Pursino's guitar is the protagonist, spanning just over 10 minutes, and which can undoubtedly be placed in a hypothetical list of the top 10 Epic songs. A simply sublime piece to end the listen.
"Invictus", as already mentioned at the beginning of the review, probably represents the pinnacle of VS, which would hint at a decline in the next two releases, the two episodes of "The House Of Atreus Act I/ Act II", and it demonstrates that the Epic genre was not at all dead by the end of the '90s. This album does not simply represent, as many think, the fact that it was and is a great record, but represents the purest incarnation of what Epic Metal means. Two words that to many may seem simple, and perhaps even silly, but in this album find their greatest expression, and in over an hour of music, make the listener feel...invincible.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
02 Invictus (05:35)
[ENDYAMON:]
I sing of Power, Magick and Faith
A Sonnet of Pure Victory
A Hymn to the Spirits of Freedom and Grace
And whichever Gods there may be . . .
Manacled, Beaten, Blackened and
Burned Cast from the
Light of the Goal I'll never falter, stumble or kneel
Thanks to the strength of my Soul
Lashed by the Winds of Fate
Stung by the Gods of Hate
I'm Rising in Power,
I'm Rising Unchained Call this a
Sacred Vow All that I tell you now I may be
Bloody, but I am unbowed I am Power
Harken the Hour,
Season and Day Phantom of Dark Misery
Summon your Demons,
Hunger and Hate Spirit of Impurity Ravaged by
Fire, stripped and enslaved
Torn from the World that I know I'll never cry out,
buckle or kneel I am the King of my Soul
Stung by the Gods of Wrath
Blinded by Circumstance
I'm Rising in Power,
I'm Rising Unchained
All that I tell you now
Sure as a Sacred Vow I may be
Bloody, but I am unbowed
[THE GODHEAD:]
Die, fall on your Sword, fall on your knees
Die like your
Son nailed to his tree
Die by my Hand, die by my Sword
Right on this Site,
Vultures defile
[ENDYAMON:]
Die, fall on your Sword,
fall on your knees Die in the
Sun nailed to these trees
Die by my Hand, die in my
Heart Flung from the Heights, forever fall
I sing of Power,
Magick and Might A Sonnet of Pure Victory
A Hymn to the Fearless, the Savage, the Brave
The Spirit of our Liberty
Total my debts, tally my sins, charge each offence on my
Scroll I'll never alter the course of my
Steele, I am the King of my Soul
Lashed by the Winds of Fate
Stung by the Gods of Hate
I'm Rising in Power through
Murdering Rain Stronger than Faith allows
Braver than Hero's Vows My Head is Bloody,
but I am unbowed
I AM POWER, POWER ! ! ! ! ! ! !
08 Vow of Honour (01:02)
GOD OF OUR SORROWS
your blade drinks deep
Earth feels the wound . . .
Earth Mother I am wronged,
Earth Mother I am wronged . . .
What comes on the
Wind can only be slain
By He who knows . . .
the Wind . . .
16 Veni, Vidi, Vici (10:43)
Are the Wings of Angels all a lie
Tell me is this not you
Are these Signs and
Warnings all we know Tell me is this not you
West Wind at my shoulder,
North Wind at my back
On the Bridge of Death no turning back
The Cavern waits before me,
a Falcon at my fist Seven Rings of Knowledge I exist . . .
to Kill ! ! !
Guardian of the Red Queen,
Seven Rivers wide
This won't end til one of us has died
Eternal Death devour those who left their
Mark Bleeding all the Light out of the Dark . . .
to Kill ! ! !
Gods of the Night,
Gods of Day Lead me to another place
We have the Force to make Wrong Right
As the River leaves the stream
All your yesterdays, shining bands unfold
With the Power to Smash
WE CAME, WE SAW,
WE CONQUERED YOU ALL WE CAME, WE SAW,
WE LIVE BY THE SWORD WE CAME, WE SAW,
WE CONQUERED YOU ALL WE CAME, WE SAW,
WE LIVE BY THE SWORD
Arrows rip my shoulder, forge a distant
Prize Shadows of their Might I know their
Eyes On the Black Horizon see our Banners Wave
Baring all Perdition for the Brave . . .
to Kill ! ! !
Gods of the Night,
Gods of Day Lead me to another place
We have the Force to make Wrong Right
As the River runs away . . .
All your yesterdays, shining bands of gold
With the Guardian that hangs on the Pine
We are Children of those who left their Mark
With the Power to Smash ! ! ! ! ! ! !
WE CAME, WE SAW,
WE CONQUERED YOU ALL WE CAME, WE SAW,
WE LIVE BY THE SWORD WE CAME, WE SAW,
WE CONQUERED YOU ALL WE CAME, WE SAW,
WE LIVE BY THE SWORD
All your yesterdays shine on Wings of Light
Sky Father, Lord of our Sorrows, our Victory is at hand Watch us . . .
SHINE ! ! !
Gods of the Night, where are you now?
I laugh at your Fate !
Fortune's on the run, see it now . . .
WE CAME, WE SAW,
WE CONQUERED YOU ALL WE CAME, WE SAW,
WE LIVE BY THE SWORD WE CAME, WE SAW,
WE CONQUERED YOU ALL WE CAME, WE SAW,
WE LIVE BY THE SWORD ! ! !
Will we ever meet again
Will we see the Light of Love At the Edge of the
World Hold it now will we see the
Sun Arise Recognize
the God in Man at the Edge of the World
I Crown Us . . . . . . .
KINGS ! ! ! ! ! ! !
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