Reviewed by Ian Webber

A haunting chime heralds the opening of this slab of classy heavy rock from Sweden which manages to include some modern touches to a traditional metal sound. Vocalist Ricard Hulteke has a rich, clean tone to his delivery that suits the steady, pulsing nature of the tracks. "I Belong To You" is full of huge guitar sounds and progressive rhythms that mix elements of the new and old in effortless fashion. There are moments when I can hear influences of fellow countrymen Europe, but All For The King manage to step things up with a more current, powerful twist. Hints of groove metal surface in "Not Ashamed" as a heavy bass drives an unapologetic statement of faith in God. A curveball is introduced with the Gregorian style chants that introduce the title track before chunky drums take over and an undertone of '70s Black Sabbath can be heard. As the album progresses the quality of production continues to impress me, especially as this is a debut release. Big sounds and effortless chunks of riffage fill the stereo spectrum with a powerful, expansive feel. Match this with some solid lyrics that do not sound clichéd and rip through the music with passion and you are left with a very promising package for a first outing. All For The King are definitely a band worth seeking out if you have an interest in classic metal that does not sound dated.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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