Warkings are back.
Since its creation in 2018 between Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the band composed of The Tribune (vocals, Serenity, Fallen Sanctuary), The Crusader (guitar, Mystic Prophecy, Watch Me Bleed, live for Powerwolf), The Spartan (drums, Souldrinker, Watch Me Bleed) and The Viking (bass, Souldrinker, Watch Me Bleed) have been playing a warlike Power Metal. In 2022, they call Lacri « Morgana le Fay » (vocals, Thwart, ex-Witch Ritual) for the release of Morgana, their fourth album, on Napalm Records.
The band starts with their guest on Hellfire, a rather dark and martial track which leaves an important place to screams without forgetting clean vocals and epic tones to which choirs are added. The melting is quite simple but rather effective, just like To The King, a composition where the four musicians place catchy riffs and more airy parts, then the witch will come back on the wild and energetic Monsters, a composition which offers some Melodic Death influences. The track relies on a heady chorus coupled with some saturated vocal parts on the verses, while Last Of The English offers us a short moment of respite before throwing us into an aggressive rhythmic filled with leads. Solid riffs are complemented by fairly constant vocals and some choirs, then Morgana le Fay will come back to scream on the disturbing rhythm of Heart of Rage. The contrast with clean vocals is surprising, letting darkness invade the soaring riffs which drive us to Row (Into the Storm), a martial composition punctuated with some Folk elements. The jerky and driving rhythmic lets some wild choirs accompany us until Immortal where the band will meet again its guest for a last intense duet between rage, dark tones and motivating sounds. Shame will offer efficient and solid tones which easily make us nod between choirs and simple riffs, just like The Rite and its few Thrash influences which are perfectly integrated with the track’s martial sounds, accompanied by some disturbing whispers. The last leads guide us to Legend Untold, a track which nearly uses the same elements to feed its epic and majestic rhythmic before experiencing covering with two last tracks. First, it’s the martial Armata Strigoi from Powerwolf that the band integrates to its universe with threatening choirs to sublimate motivating riffs, then it’s with a heavier and wilder version of Cry Thunder, a track from Dragonforce that the band closes its album with their guest.
Warkings‘ sound has grown, allowing the band to evolve. Their collaboration with Morgana le Fay allows them to make Morgana darker and more aggressive than their previous releases, while keeping a catchy basis.
75/100