Customer Reviews

As Our Army Grows

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Took a chance on this one. Not a bad song on the disc. The lead vocalist sounds alot like Bartow from Iced Earth. What stands them apart form Iced Earth more lead guitar work and great druming. (I do like Iced Earth).

4.5 stars. After their ambitious "Second Sight", which was loaded with great songwriting but in serious need of a production overhaul, I was hoping for a vast improvement with "As Our Army Grows". I am thoroughly impressed with the leap forward in both the production sound and maturity of songcraft. While this album is packed with excellence I still become a little crestfallen when I hear the repetitive choruses as on the songs "You Die Today" and "Fear is not Enough". But the occasional flaw is really nothing when compared to the overall improvement of Intense as a whole. The great guitar work is still there, though it is a bit flashier on "Second Sight", and the vocals are now up front and more explosive than ever before. This band comes across as a mixture of Iced Earth and Evergrey, with the driving force of the former combined with the fluid arrangements of the latter. In fact, this lead singer frequently reminds me of the great Matt Barlow (formerly of Iced Earth); though without the upper register range his vocals still carry a lot of power behind them. The final three songs, "Chronicles of the New Flesh Trilogy", comes across as a tribute to Iced Earth's "Something Wicked Trilogy", albeit with a Sci-fi bent to it. It is an exceptional way to end this incredibly solid Progressive Power Metal endeavor. Running time: (57:03)

1. ANGER OF THE ANCIENTS (4:14)

2. MIRROR SHROUD (4:08)

3. OUR LAST HOPE (7:09)

4. YOU DIE TODAY (6:29)

5. INSANITY'S CALL (6:11)

6. TEMPTRESS (5:48)

7. FEAR IS NOT ENOUGH (4:53)

CHRONICLES OF THE NEW FLESH (TRILOGY)

8. TROJAN TRANSMISSION (5:21)

9. STRANGE NEW WORLD (7:03)

10. LONG LIVE THE NEW FLESH (5:42)

Likeable liggers from old Blighty Intense seem one of those bands destined to not make much of an impression due to geographic incompatibility with their chosen genre in the same way Australian trad/power metal outfits Black Majesty and Vanishing Point struggle against almost overwhelming domestic indifference. But it's sad - as anybody who hears the excellent You Die Today from this record will see as the introduction to this track shows some real talent for arrangement and the song also possesses my pick for tastiest guitar solo on the whole disc. Other personal faves would include Anger of Ancients and Mirror Shroud which both show a band that have nailed the delivery of fairly standard metal style lyrics within a traditional structure to pleasing effect.

The shoestring budget isn't really an issue and in fact the quality of the band and Karl Grooms production is actually a plus - an overcoming of a potential limitation that leads to a sense of optimism. Other parts to weight against the good however is that Intense are in a crowded genre and they aren't in possession of a major domestic market (Dragonforce is the only British power metal band allowed a modicum of respect at home thus far, largely because they are considered to be taking the mickey). But as for musically specific weaknesses there is the fact that vocalist Sean Hetherington seems to be a bit strained and anaemic and while he may have a decent enough voice I'm not sure he's in the right genre to really show it in the best light as he really has no authority on this record. Certainly if he gets more comfortable or stronger of voice or writes lyrics more suited to himself rather than trying to copy what all the other power metal singers do then this bands next album may be quite interesting.

3.5 stars for this lovingly put together small time project.