Battle Ruins - Glorious Dead
Self-released / Rock ‘N’ Roll Disgrace
Although it wasn’t until more recently that I discovered Battle Ruins would bring along a brand new LP to their show in Berlin this weekend – it’s the 4th of April, 2018 when I am writing this – it instantly became the most anticipated album of the year, at least to me. Not just because their last work in vinyl was released nearly four years ago already, but also because the three-track promo cassette that was sold at last year’s show in Boston definitely tasted like more! A lot more actually. And that is exactly what the Bostonians present on their second album – “Glorious Dead”!
Now I usually start to babble about how good a record it is, but is it really necessary in Battle Ruins’ case? Because you already know how – and I hardly use these words – fucking epic this record it is, without even hearing it. Because believe me, it is – and I have heard it. The full album. All eight tracks. So instead of doing my usual type of review, I’ve decided to do things a little different and go through it track by track, simply because I can.
Glorious Dead Lay Under Waves: Opener “Glorious Dead Lay Under Waves” is one of the three previously released tracks on the aforementioned promo cassette. All remastered for this vinyl release, the songs – thus “Glorious Dead Lay Under Waves” – sound stronger than ever before and this track in particular remains one of my favorite Battle Ruins anthems, even after hearing all remaining new tracks, simply because Brendan’s lead-vocals are so powerful. I just can’t hear this song enough.
Same Enemy: Up next is the first, previously unreleased track “Same Enemy”. As the drums and guitars roll in the tension rises – this is it! And yes, this is it! It’s mid-tempo, it’s dark, it’s Battle Ruins! Clocking well over four and a half minutes, there is plenty of room for some metallic guitar work, guitarists Joe and Cliff eagerly take advantage off.
Below The Black Sun: One of the shorter and therefor faster songs off the LP is the second new track, “Below The Black Sun”. Ripping it up from start to finish, this stomper is bound to leave blood on the dancefloor with its killer chorus and ridiculous guitar work in the final quarter of the song.
Atomic Fire: And all of a sudden “Atomic Fire” popped up on YouTube about a month ago. My head exploded and I instantly thought of an EP with the three previously released tracks – guess again, right? If the Armageddon had a soundtrack – no I don’t mean the soundtrack of the movie – this would be it. Will we survive? Atomic fire! Sick.
Marty’s Victory: Rolling in with a thunderous bass intro is “Marty’s Victory” – and holy shit, this song sounds victorious indeed! If there is one song that will make you feel like you can single handedly take on the whole world, this song is it! The chorus on this one is just superior and the vocalic background melodies that pop out of your speakers at about two and a half minutes are magnificent! I literally played this song 20 times over again (it would have been more times if I had the time), such a strong anthem!
Slain Stripped Scalped: The second track off last year’s cassette is “Slain Stripped Scalped” and just as the title suggests, this is a ferocious barn burner indeed! Actually the shortest track off the LP, clocking in at 1 minute and 38 seconds, it’s also one of the faster paced tracks on “Glorious Dead”, while the brutally chanted chorus – which is nothing more than the song title… SLAIN!... STRIPPED!... SCALPED!... – and the roaring guitar melodies that put the song to an end remain as glorious as ever.
We Are The 10th Legion: The third and final track off last year’s promo is of course “We Are The 10th Legion”, a true battle-hymn that would make you march proudly into battle – even after hearing it for the hundred (though probably more) time. Superb!
The Day The Idols Fell: The last, though certainly not the least – yet the longest track is “The Day The Idols Fell”. Just when you thought they couldn’t infuse more metal influences into their sound, this banger – that is clocking well over five minutes – pops up, for a grandeur finale. We’re not worthy… so good.
I don’t need to tell you to buy this - because you are going to anyway, but I got to say that this album is close to perfection. And if, though let’s hope not, the band decides to never release a single song again – it is perfection. So if you decide to buy just one album this year (who does that anyway), this is the one to get. Though remember, there are just 500 copies, so if you snooze you lose – at least until the second press rolls out of the vinyl factory.
