THAUROROD
Thaurorod (looks easy to say, but I am still not confident in my pronunciation) brings to us an early 2018 gem with ‘Coast of Gold’. The band’s third full-length release after a near five-year hiatus since 2013’s ‘Anteinferno’. Returning, we have Lasse Nyman on guitars, Pasi Tanskanen manning the bass, Joonas Pykälä-aho as drummer, Emppu returns to guitars, Harri Koskela on keys, and the amazing Andi Kravljaca offers his voice once again.
Right from the on-set, you are jettisoned into a blistering barrage of bullet hell guitars in ‘Power’. Roughly 30 seconds of machine gun riffs brings you to Kravljaca’s glorious vocals that will bring forth wild memories of Kai Hansen of legendary power metal masters Gamma Ray! Top speed from beginning to end, perfect progression. Then we have a nice introduction of keyboards that quickly transition into mighty double bass drum and fast paced guitars. Excellent transition into ‘The Commonwealth Lives’.
The ‘Coast of Gold’ title track is next and delivers fantastic build to a defining moment of this release within a breathtaking chorus. Not sure I’ve heard a better set of songs to open an album! ‘24601’ really hits home as a very classy (and incredibly rocking!) tribute to the legendary theatre musical ‘Les Misérables’. If you are a ‘Les Mis’ fan, you totally have to check this one out! ‘Feed the Flame’ and ‘Into the Flood’ are prime examples of excellent power speed metal at its finest. They flank a somewhat above average track called ‘Cannibal Island’ that tries to slow things down a bit with more ambient pacing which, while not really bad, just isn’t as well put together as the rest of the album so far.
‘My Sun Will Rise’ continues a euphoric rise of pure metal that will leave your ears ringing and toes tapping for hours on end! This collection of tracks is then brought to an all-time high with the absolute best track on this record. Potentially an early candidate for power metal track of the year, too!! ‘Illuminati’ is absolute bliss from beginning to end. It has depth, build, a catchy chorus and wonderful pacing throughout. Cannot be encouraged enough, this is an absolute MUST LISTEN.
At the end, for some reason, we have a 6-minute ballad called ‘Halla’. I wish it were not present on this album. It does not fit with the entire feel of ‘Coast of Gold’ and is seriously the only negative mark on the entire album.
Thaurorod’s return is a welcome surprise in 2018 and absolutely cannot be missed. Outside of one uninspired ballad and an oddly placed song about cannibal islands, you have the perfect speedy power metal experience! I’ve not heard an album this good since Gamma Ray’s ‘Power Plant’. It is amazing. Buy it!
Right from the on-set, you are jettisoned into a blistering barrage of bullet hell guitars in ‘Power’. Roughly 30 seconds of machine gun riffs brings you to Kravljaca’s glorious vocals that will bring forth wild memories of Kai Hansen of legendary power metal masters Gamma Ray! Top speed from beginning to end, perfect progression. Then we have a nice introduction of keyboards that quickly transition into mighty double bass drum and fast paced guitars. Excellent transition into ‘The Commonwealth Lives’.
The ‘Coast of Gold’ title track is next and delivers fantastic build to a defining moment of this release within a breathtaking chorus. Not sure I’ve heard a better set of songs to open an album! ‘24601’ really hits home as a very classy (and incredibly rocking!) tribute to the legendary theatre musical ‘Les Misérables’. If you are a ‘Les Mis’ fan, you totally have to check this one out! ‘Feed the Flame’ and ‘Into the Flood’ are prime examples of excellent power speed metal at its finest. They flank a somewhat above average track called ‘Cannibal Island’ that tries to slow things down a bit with more ambient pacing which, while not really bad, just isn’t as well put together as the rest of the album so far.
‘My Sun Will Rise’ continues a euphoric rise of pure metal that will leave your ears ringing and toes tapping for hours on end! This collection of tracks is then brought to an all-time high with the absolute best track on this record. Potentially an early candidate for power metal track of the year, too!! ‘Illuminati’ is absolute bliss from beginning to end. It has depth, build, a catchy chorus and wonderful pacing throughout. Cannot be encouraged enough, this is an absolute MUST LISTEN.
At the end, for some reason, we have a 6-minute ballad called ‘Halla’. I wish it were not present on this album. It does not fit with the entire feel of ‘Coast of Gold’ and is seriously the only negative mark on the entire album.
Thaurorod’s return is a welcome surprise in 2018 and absolutely cannot be missed. Outside of one uninspired ballad and an oddly placed song about cannibal islands, you have the perfect speedy power metal experience! I’ve not heard an album this good since Gamma Ray’s ‘Power Plant’. It is amazing. Buy it!
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Drakkar Entertainment
Album
COAST OF GOLD
Review by Joshua Jaeger
RUNNING TIME:
50:36
RELEASE DATE:
16th Feb 2018
TRACK LISTING
1) Power
2) The Commonwealth Lives
3) Coast of Gold
4) 24601
5) Feed the Flame
6) Cannibal Island
7) Into the Flood
8) My Sun Will Rise
9) Illuminati
10) Halla
2) The Commonwealth Lives
3) Coast of Gold
4) 24601
5) Feed the Flame
6) Cannibal Island
7) Into the Flood
8) My Sun Will Rise
9) Illuminati
10) Halla
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Finland
"Thaurorod’s return is a welcome surprise in 2018 and absolutely cannot be missed. Outside of one uninspired ballad and an oddly placed song about cannibal islands, you have the perfect speedy power metal experience!"
