Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Hard to believe these Swedes are nearly 40-years old. The band splashed the scene in 1980 and signed with late NWOBHM label Ebony records for two albums, ‘Bringer of Evil’ in 1984 and ‘Revenge’ in 1986. After that solid start…well things got a little wishy-washy. The band took 17-years to release their third album, ‘Insane’. It proved to be a bit of a comeback for the group with two albums released in the 00’s and another in 2013. In my opinion, Syron Vanes have reached their peak of productivity with this new album, ‘Chaos from a Distance’. It arrives courtesy of Danish label Mighty Music. The record begins with solid opener “God of War”, a stead-fast mid-tempo anthem that has a bit of chugging rhythm. Second cut, “Angelchild”, is exactly what we want out of this band. It’s punchy and melodic hard rock with that expression of heaviness. It’s this sort of sweeping guitar-driven hook that allows the smooth vocals of Rimmy Hunter to envelope listeners. The album’s title track is sort of this hybrid of Fozzy meets Ozzy meets The New Black, complete with some down-tuned heaviness and pinch harmonics. Highlights are aplenty – check out the speedy gallop of “The Seventh Day”, the build-up of the nearly eight-minute “Trial by Spirit” or the rowdy “Ringside”. It’s 13 cuts and nearly a full hour of hard ‘n heavy perfection.