AMULET – The Inevitable War

Introducing any Heavy Metal fan to the English Metal scene and the NWOBHM is something as about as unnecessary as telling any football enthusiast that Brazil is where football is (well, almost) considered the official religion. Like no football fan needs to be told it was Brazil to win the World Cup the most times and there are at least some things they know about Pele or Garrincha, every Metal fan knows it was England where Heavy Metal was invented. If asked to list top 5 English Heavy Metal bands, the list will certainly include Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon or Def Leppard. Those who really know their stuff, will mention dozens of bands. But those bands were in their prime decades ago. Are there any new acts out there? Of course, there are. One of those bands was founded back in 2010 and they are to release their second record in May of 2019. Here are the English metallers Amulet and their new album titled The Inevitable War.

This album features only one founding member – Marek “Heathen” Steven on guitar. The members of the new line-up have certainly done an amazing job nevertheless. Especially the new singer, Federico “Mace” Mazza (ex Asgard) – Steven should be glad to have the Italian singer onboard. Why? Because the guy certainly gets asked to join Judas Priest tribute bands from all over the world on a daily basis. Maybe one day Rob Halford will consider hiring Mazza as his successor in Judas Priest.

Judas Priest is however not the only band that the songs from The Inevitable War can be compared to. The opening track titled „The Satanist” and the „Poison Chalice” being the eighth one will be appreciated by the fans of early Iron Maiden. In a nutshell: songs that could have appeared on Killers, but with Rob Halford on vocals, although there is more than just that to Amulet. Some of their music has also been influenced by early Power Metal bands, such as Savatage, especially the 6th track “Siege Machine.” Several songs on the album feature synths, which some orthodox Heavy Metal fans might not approve of. However, the use of synthesizers is definitely not excessive and actually results in a very interesting variation, adding diversity to the powerful riffs. There are also some quality solos on the album, especially the one in the third track “Burning Hammer.”

If anyone was expecting something new that sounds like it could have been released in the 1980s, they will most likely dig The Inevitable War. However, those who also like when the new band tries to put something fresh in their music may find Amulet not that exciting, simply because most of the songs on the record sound like a mix of the NWOBHM bands, although the final composition “Roundhead” has quite a unique sound to it. Maybe like “Hallowed Be Thy Name” from the legendary The Number Of The Beast it also heralds the new era which will begin as soon as the new album is released? To sum it up, the music is decent, but hopefully the next album will be less about sounding like the bands from the past.