Company: Ektro Release: 2015 Genre: Traditional, NWO_HM Reviewer: Eric Compton
NWOTHM sound
Like the late 70s and early 80s, NWOBHM had a Belgian following known simply as New Wave of Belgian Heavy Metal. Finland has mirrored that sort of sub-genre with its NWOTHM offshoot simply referred to as New Wave of Finnish Heavy Metal. Alongside Steel Mammoth and Circle, Lord Fist contributes their Finnish export with three recordings of traditional metal. The band formed in 2011 and released their CD-R demo a year later independently. 'Spark for the Night' is vintage British heavy metal, mid-paced riffs dressed up in gothic drapery, abstract vocals and busy cymbal work. A three song EP called 'Wordless Wisdom of Lord Fist' was released on vinyl via Ektro Records subsidiary Full Contact. The debut full-length was released in 2015 on Ektro (Circle, Quest for Blood) and was produced by extremist Qraken, real name Samuli Pesonen (Bloodshrine, Battlegoat). 'Green Eyeleen' proves to be the fastest we've seen Lord Fist, out of the gate running with the quick-paced "Who Wants to Live Forever" and "Rainbow Eyes". A slower moving doom passage, 'The Well of Ganchul (Eyleen Pt. II), displays the band's abstract storytelling and arrangements. Album closer "Road Ravens" is the epitome of the NWOTHM sound - quick rhythms, busy cymbal work and mid to operatic vocals. The band will appear later this year at Metal Rites Festival with the legendary Jag Panzer.
