Artist: Magnetar
Title: Gates Of The North
Type: EP
Label: Digital
A short little review here for a short but perfectly formed EP. Magnatar are a UK kind of blackened heavy metal band I have a lot of time for musically, but also personally as not only was their superb 2024 debut ‘There Will Be No Peace In My Valley’ one of the last albums I reviewed at Ave Noctum before the tragic death of Pete Woods, but it was directed specifically at me which was kind of special. They were also formed by Dan Walmsley and with Nick Wallwork (current Ard member and ex- Winterfylleth ) Rob Harris (Foetal Juice, ex-Necronautical) and Jordan Sheffield (Acid Vat, ex-Gospelheim) you can see they are a unit brimming with talent.
So this is their first release since the album.
‘Gate Of The North’ itself, the new track, leads off. A lovely, rich guitar intro so full of that classy heavy metal languid style….and the fantastic classy mid paced riff pounds in and then hits the accelerator. It is simply great heavy metal that speeds inot the black as the drums whip up a storm and the harsh vocals snarl over the top. The best thing is this isn’t just excellent heavy metal with harsh vocals, it is a great blending with black metal. Think some of the best pagan metal, a hookline that just never gets loose. A more heavy metal Immortal, a lost track from the NWOBHM, a yearning melody that makes my hair prickle. And the solo? Oh lord. It just takes you away. Six minutes and you still never want it to end. If this is the standard they are at the next album is going to be an absolute storm.
Second track is a Merciless cover, ‘Unbound’. A brave move? Well more an assured one. They do it proud; the sound here is superb too. The drumming is outstanding, the riff totally on point and the vocals shifting into a touch more of the death perhaps. Go back and listen to the original; this is not so much a reimagining than a celebration of the original with perhaps a more dense sound but just excellent.
The EP closes with and older track ‘Kingdoms Of Chaos’ which never made it to the debut but looking back Magnetar thought it worth a revisit. There is a lowering of the heavy metal sound, an extra layer of the black but still it has that superb grasp of melody that comes out of the harsh riffing without shedding the power one bit.
Ah this is great to hear, it really is. They’ve been out and about a little gigging and with this new track on display nestled with a cover and an unreleased older track you pretty much have the bands sound and influences on display.
For my money Magnetar are a bit special in how they blend their roots and loves and pour passion into those melodies and that harsh attack. Can’t wait for the next release, but in the mean time get ye to Bandcamp on the link below and drink this . The Gates Of The North are ready to open…
Gizmo
