Customer Reviews

Advance & Vanquish

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've been collecting and studying heavy metal for about 15 years now. I love something about all the different genres of metal, etc, etc. This band, though, made me realize that a lot of the 'newest' metal just lacks...fun. I put this cd in and was IMMEDIATELY headbanging. I could care less about what some people are going to say about them: 'that old 80's sound is dead', 'the lyrics are amature'. Whatever. This is FUN metal. This is the metal I like to listen to more than anything else. It's like if you take Iron Maiden's rhythm, Rob Halford's voice, maybe Blitz' voice (of Overkill), and Iced Earth's machine-gun guitars and drums, and then tossed them together. Man...it's just great metal. Period.

verily, these mystical tales of power and magic shall transport you unto forgotten realms of strength and fury! if you dare, prepare your heart and mind to endure the cosmic firestorm so that you might return, changed and triumphant, to restore wonder in this soulless land...

This certainly takes you back to the old days, it's hard to believe that this CD is from 2004, it's certainly inspired by the old Judas Priest records, but 3 Inches do give this dose of heavy metal their own sound. The opening riff for the first track kicks in almost immediately. The dual vocalist thing hits you from the beginning, the singer can really hit the high notes as Rob Halford would, while the second vocalist does odd bits of growling in the background. The opening track is a brilliant dose of classic heavy metal and makes you want to hear more.

The rest of the album continues in the same vein, with kicking nostalgic heavy metal tunes that don't let up until the end, though the first track remains one of the highlights. The lyrics are almost all fantasy or metal based, including the "Upon the Boiling Sea" trilogy running through it, while the strangely named Wykydtron is about a cyborg. You might be thinking that this must be cheese and more cheese, and you're pretty much right, a lot of this is cheesy, but it's the music that counts, and if it's excellent heavy metal you're after, this wants your attention. I really can't think of a weakness to this, the two-pronged vocal attack could put some people off, especially the growling of Cam Pipes, but this really is pretty much flawless. Out of nowhere comes 3 Inches of Blood, keeping old school heavy metal alive!

Stand-out tracks: Fear on the Bridge (Upon The Boiling Sea I), Deadly Sinners, Wykydtron

About a month ago my life was a pitiful wreck. I had a diverse collection of music, but there was something lacking. I was lacking music about killing orcs and killer robots from the future. My neck was pitifully healthy and robust from shortage of head-banging, and I lacked the appropriate soundtrack to accompany my favorite night-time hobby of dressing like King Leonidas from 300 and smashing my neighbor's mailboxes with a golf club.

But then all that changed one day. I spotted a CD with artwork and a band title so chock full of badassery that I had to purchase it. I had low expectations popping the CD into my stereo, but lo and behold I was pinned to the wall from the sheer power of awesome emanating from this CD! The Canadian metal gods blessed us with 3 Inches of Blood and their album Advance and Vanquish, a 10,000 megaton bomb of metal! A whole album about sword fighting, killing orcs, and even a song about a killer robot from the future!

Since getting this CD my life is much better. My Spartan get-up is getting a lot more usage, my neighbors have warrants out for my arrest for destruction of property, and the left side of my body is starting to go numb from the sheer tidal wave of head banging I've been doing! My sudden growth of chest hair may even be a result of this album!

So if you fellow metalhead, lack the awesome power of orc-smashing Canadian metal, pick up Advance and Vanquish today!

Hmm, I'll keep this short, cause there isn't a whole lot to say.

`3 Inches of Blood' are about as self-consciously `old-school' as any modern North American metal band that you're likely to find. In fact, they're so Maiden and Priest-esque that some have supposed them to be parody. They say they aren't, and either way, they rock like hell if you're into this sorta thing. On the down side, all of their songs on `Advance and Vanquish' sound exactly the same, but they're all pretty fun and catchy, so it's no huge loss. Still, it probably could've stood to have a few tracks cut, as 13 tends to be a bit much if you haven't got any variety.

This album will most typically described as a kinda mix between `Painkiller' and Iron Maiden's faster material. This is a pretty decent description, as the key elements of their sound are Halford like shrieking and lotsa harmonized, melodic guitar lines. The main thing distinguishing them from their influence is the second singer, who's a kinda hardcore shrieker. For the most part, he just sings along with the lead singer, particularly during the choruses. It's a little weird, but it's kinda cool too.

It's tough to pick out standout tracks, because, again, it all pretty much sounds the same. The opening tracks tend to be the very best ones. `Fear on the Bridge' and `Deadly Sinners' are both wildly over the top slices of speed-metal, and they're a load of fun, with crazy vox and some deadly guitar melodies. `Premonition of Pain' is probably the very best track. Best vox on the album, and a great stomping groove at some points.

People will whine about this album being derivative, and this fact certainly can't be denied. But they've studied their influences well, and have made some fine, driving classic metal. Check it out.

The difference between a good metal band and a great metal band is simple: Good metal, no matter how righteous the chops are, is at the mercy of your taste. You decided it was worth it. Great metal has a different relationship with its fans. A great metal band is not about the talent or panache; it's not about the pomp or pyrotechnics. Great metal just IS. A great metal band doesn't earn a fanbase; it INTIMIDATES its fanbase. It chooses you, and there's nothing you can do about, so strap yourself in, grit your teeth, and love it. 3 Inches of Blood is just such a band. They know it, and so will you. Just remember that when you decide to purchase this CD, it's not because you decided to own 3 Inches of Blood; it's because they decided to own YOU.

I heard of this band before and like 2 hours ago I saw it at the music store. I hadn't bought any music in months so I said "Why not?". What a good decision. This is good old Heavy Metal at its best. In 2004. Not only that. It is a strange mixture of Black Metal (lyrics), Thrash (some of the percussion) and Power Metal (lyrics). So this is like Heavy/Thrash/Black/Power Metal.
Oh and, don't worry what the bashers say. Who cares if this isn't serious? Music is about relaxing and having a good time. So the fools can look for something to "relate to". Heck, I'm listening to this and I'm having fun.
Metal Rules.

Advance and Vanquish is one the most satisfying CDs I've heard in a long while. This is what a combination of In Flames and Judas Priest sounds like. The two vocalists Cam Pipes and Jamie Hooper make sure that every vocal style is present, from Rob Halford-like screams to death metal grunts. With their over-the-top style metal and lyrics about battles and pirates they may sound like a joke to many people, but if so, they're a good joke at least. The two guitarists Justin Hagberg and Shane Clark work together flawlessly on some Iron Maiden-type double riffs and on top of that this album has a production that will amaze a lot of listeners out there. This is what metal is about ladies and gentlemen. This is pure fun!

Tired of self-pitying weak Metal? I know they're easy targets but while middle-class millionaires like Korn and Limp Bizkit moan and gripe, bands like this put out rock-solid workmanlike albums of power and honesty. Seeing as they're new I'll do the comparison thing. Think At The Gates mixed with Accept. Blood curdling vo-kills and ripping songs. Just check out the titles. Are they going on about their girlfriends leaving? No, it's "Enemies of Metal, your death is our reward". Is there a song called "I'm depressed and lonely"? No, but there is one called Axes Of Evil. Hail, hail, hail!

I love this band, it all works great. The lyrics, drums, guitar...all of it just fits. The best part about this band is the awesome old school metal sound with that new school feel. The only problem I have with them is that after listening to them for while, Jamie Hooper (Lead Vocalist), starts to sound a bit screechy. But kick ass nonetheless.

Definitely one of the best things to ever come out of Canada.