Album Of The Day-Grand Magus-"Monument" (2003)

The Album Of The Day is "Monument" by Grand Magus.



Review:

Well, this is more like it! Swedish stoner rock trio Grand Magus did themselves few favors with their solid but unspectacular 2002 debut, which quietly sank into the general morass afflicting the doom/stoner movement at the time. And when guitarist and singer JB subsequently hooked up with Michael Amott's high-flying Spiritual Beggars, it looked as if Grand Magus were doomed (no pun intended) to vanish altogether, leaving only that one middling release to their name. However, thanks to the incredibly gregarious and liberal nature of the Swedish music scene, here they are -- unexpectedly back with a 2003 follow-up that is quite deserving of its imposing title: Monument. Howling winds and mournful guitar lines introduce album opener "Ulvaskall (Vargr)," which promptly lurches into gear on an Iommi-approved, bent-note riff and fittingly bleak words intoning "I'm damned and I'm cursed forever/Destined to walk this land," over and over again. Ensuing single (yeah right -- a "single," ha!) "Summer Solstice" steps it up a notch to take listeners chugging down the highway, and by the time Grand Magus slow it down again for the lysergic roll of "Brotherhood of Sleep" and the gargantuan doom creep of "Baptised in Fire" [sic], retro-metal fans will likely be foaming at the mouth over what they're hearing. Simply put, energetic doom doesn't get much better than this, or, for that matter, the album's frightfully heavy next offering, "Chooser of the Slain (Valfader)," which combines chiming bells, concussive power chords, and lyrics of Viking lore to thrilling and terrifying effect. And to wrap things up on a high note, the likeminded "Food of the Gods" offers a final, concise battering before the colossal denouement of ten-minute epic "Ye Who Seeks...Shall Find." Powerful, steady, unrelenting, and always f*ckin' heavy, Monument helped put the bite back into what was then a distressingly flagging strain of heavy metal. (Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide)

Track Listing:

01. Ulvaskall (Vargr)
02. Brotherhood Of Sleep
03. Baptised In Fire
04. He Who Seeks... Shall Find
05. Chooser Of The Slain (Valfader)
06. Summer Solstice
07. Food Of The Gods

Listen

MySpace
Official Website

Purchase "Monument" here.

Grand Magus Completes Work on New Album

Stockholm, Sweden-based heavy metal powerhouse Grand Magus has completed work on its long awaited new album, Iron Will. The record will see a July 8, 2008 North American release date via London, England based label Rise Above Records.
Boasting an epic sound that melds sledgehammer metal with triumphant, soaring melodies, a fist-pumping gallop and the forceful, convincing vocals of front man and guitarist JB (recently listed as the eighth best Metal vocalist in the world, according to the readers of Japan’s respected BURRN! Magazine), Grand Magus delivers a vigorous strain of metal that values musicality, craftsmanship, and nuance as well as forcefulness.

Recorded at Sweden’s Resync Studios with producer Oneman, Iron Will is the sound of a band on top of its game, delivering true heavy metal with absolute conviction. From the ominous bell tower toll leading the opening salvo “Like the Oar Strikes the Water” to the NWOBHM thunder of “Iron Will” and “Silver Into Steel” through the monolithic, nine-minute closing colossus “I Am The North,” one thing is most abundantly clear; the way Grand Magus combines their melodic/harmonic sense with powerfully loud, balls-to-the-wall aggression shows them as both headbangers and craftsmen.

The final track listing for Iron Will is as follows:


1.) Like the Oar Strikes the Water
2.) Fear Is the Key
3.) Höuding
4.) Iron Will
5.) Silver Into Steel
6.) The Shadow Knows
7.) Self Deceiver
8.) Beyond Good and Evil
9.) I Am The North


The brand new Grand Magus track “Like the Oar Strikes the Water,” described by JB as “a resounding blow against false prophets and all denial of the power of the mind,” has been posted online in advance of Iron Will’s release. Check it out now at this location.


North American and European live dates in support of Iron Will are in the works and expected to be announced soon.


In addition to JB, Grand Magus features bassist Fox and drummer Sebastian.


“Grand Magus (is), a trio of bearded, burly doom metalers, who actually give a damn about the importance of melody. As Grand Magus dare to buck the trend of tuneless lead vocals, they prove that having a good lead singer in a metal band can still go a long, long way.”
– Popmatters


“...a veritable maelstrom of heads-down riffing and thundering drums…what’s most striking about “Iron Will” is how powerful frontman JB’s vocals have become, giving rise to a layered, harmony effect serving to strengthen his odes to all things fire and brimstone. All in all, Grand Magus have delivered their definitive album, the best of their career so far.”
– Metal Hammer

“...epic Viking battle metal…savage crusades and violent clashes. But after the dust settles, and the blood soaks into the earth, Grand Magus will still be standing. The wolf has returned.”
– StonerRock.com


“Should you worship at the altar of pyrotechnic metal, then quaff deep of this riff bejeweled, heavy metal chalice, as the heady ingredients within are guaranteed to raise the weary soul to vertiginous heights…Grand Magus already have an enviable and unassailable musical legacy, these proto-doom overseers have blossomed into true heavy metal icons”
– Roadburn


“...bottom-heavy thunder-blues…like a doomy, half-speed Scandinavian version of Iron Maiden, minus all the extraneous dueling guitar-solo bullshit and tight pants. Plus, they have long hair and beards and sing about wolves…a modern-day Mountain of Judgment”
– Decibel

GRAND MAGUS: 'Iron Will' Artwork Revealed

Swedish powerhouse GRAND MAGUS, which features in its ranks current SPIRITUAL BEGGARS frontman Janne Christoffersson, will release its fourth full-length album, "Iron Will", in Europe on June 9 via Rise Above Records. The CD, which was once again recorded in Stockholm, with Oneman acting as engineer and co-producer, will be issued in the U.S. on June 24 through Candlelight.

Track Listing:

01. Like the Oar Strikes the Water
02. Fear Is the Key
03. Höuding
04. Iron Will
05. Silver Into Steel
06. The Shadow Knows
07. Self Deceiver
08. Beyond Good and Evil
09. I Am The North

GRAND MAGUS To Release 'Iron Will' In June

Swedish powerhouse GRAND MAGUS, which features in its ranks current SPIRITUAL BEGGARS frontman Janne Christoffersson, will release its fourth full-length album, "Iron Will", on June 9 via Rise Above Records. The CD was once again recorded in Stockholm, with Oneman acting as engineer and co-producer.

In other news, GRAND MAGUS has been confirmed for this year's Bloodstock Open Air festival, set to take place August 15-17, 2008 at Catton Hall in Derbyshire, England.

The festival billing is now shaping up as follows:

NIGHTWISH
DIMMU BORGIR
OPETH
HELLOWEEN
ICED EARTH
OVERKILL
AT THE GATES
AS I LAY DYING
SOILWORK
PRIMAL FEAR
COMMUNIC
MOB RULES
MOONSORROW
KATAKLYSM
TYR
SWALLOW THE SUN
ELUVEITIE
EVILE
ALESTORM
CLOUDSCAPE
SAINT DEAMON
CROWNING GLORY
PRO-JEKT
GRAND MAGUS
KELTIC JIHAD