Customer Reviews

In Triumph

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

 

 

I wasn't really familiar with the Quill when I picked up In Triumph at my local used CD store. I decided to give the album a try based on two factors - the band is Swedish and the album is on the SPV label. From Europe to Evergrey to Dark Tranquillity and even Millencolin, Sweden is home to the best and the brightest rock and metal bands, and SPV is a label known for signing top artists in these genres.

I didn't have much in the way of musical expectations from this band, but they definitely met my quality expectation. With In Triumph, the Quill serves up a slab of heavy rock that is equal parts Black Sabbath and Soundgarden. The guitarist's heavy, plodding style obviously borrows a page or ten from the Tony Iommi songbook and vocalist Magnus Ekwall comes so close to Chris Cornell's trademark wailing it is uncanny. Unlike most of what you hear from Sweden, the Quill's music is not overly melodic, relying more on sheer weight than catchy hooks, though the band definitely picks up the pace when needed.

Overall I give In Triumph 3.5 stars. It's nothing groundbreaking, but is a very solid hard rock album. I could see this album appealing to fans of doom metal, stoner rock, grunge, and quality modern rock. Those of you who were turned off by Audioslave's prepackaged corporate sound should love the Quill. This is what that band should have sounded like.

I have yet to hear a truly great new rock band. Unfortunately, if you want to discover one, your search will be painstaking. I haven't spent numerous hours on Amazon searching, but I have put in some time digging. The Quill is my best find yet. The quality of both the vocalist and the guitar sound are fabulous. The songwriting is exceptional, and the arrangement is also very fine. The lyrics are a bit indistinct to me, but I am from the USA, and the band is from Sweden which would explain my lack of lyrical empathy.

Overall this is a very strong rock album, it rocks hard, sounds fantastic, and as all great music does--forces you to listen. Musical variety is not lacking on this album as it does with so much recorded music today. I am very happy to have discovered this band, I consider them an uncommon find as I spent many hours previewing music here on Amazon.

The thirty-second samples are sometimes misleading and have directed me to purchase music I did not like afterward; however, with The Quill I was very pleasantly surprised and rewarded. I think if you want something new and your standards are high, you will not be disappointed with this recording.

Great Vocals, Great Rock Album! This is what heavy rock should sound like. Check out the Spiritual Beggars, Grand Magus and The Hellacopters....Sweden bands rock.