DRAGONY – Viribus Unitis

DRAGONY - Viribus Unitis
  • 7.5/10
    DRAGONY - Viribus Unitis - 7.5/10
7.5/10

Summary

Napalm Records
Release date: January 15, 2021

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Glory Metal

Austrian veteran metallers Dragony release their 4th studio album on Napalm Records titled Viribus Unitis. Named after the official motto of Austrian Emperor Franz Josef, Viribus Unitis marks both a comeback to musical roots as well as the next step into the future for Dragony, as the band returns to a “rock opera concept” similar to their debut effort Legends. The band features Siegfried “The Dragonslayer” Samer (ex-Eleftheria, ex-Visions of Atlantis) on lead vocals with Simon Saito and Andreas Poppernitsch (Omega Effect) on guitars, Manuel Hartleb on keyboards, Herbert Glos (Visions of Atlantis) on the bass and Frederic Brünner (Planewalker, ex-Siren’s Cry, ex-Satory) on the drums.

Demons, Zombies and Cyberpunk Josef

Viribus Unitis contains 12 tracks coming in at just over 49 minutes of grand, anthemic melodies over a Hard Rock base. The concept of the album is deeply intertwined with the history of Austria and in particular with the end of the Habsburg monarchy, which has often been romanticized. The story of Viribus Unitis presents a very fantastical, alternate timeline of these events, involving magic, crazy science, a demonically possessed Empress Sisi, zombie armies and of course: Cyberpunk Joseph.

Top Tracks

The album opens with a version of “On the Blue Danube” by Strauss as an intro to the single, and high-energy tune “Gods of War”. With rapid double-kick drums and power metal guitars leading the march on “Gods of War”, the band delivers solid performances. “Love You to Death” starts off sounding like a battle hymn that quickly develops into a 6/8 metal dirge with more big melodies and anthemic, sing along choruses. This reviewer’s favorite track is the album ender and bonus track titled “Haben Sie Wien Schon Bei Nacht Gesehn” which has a uniqueness and feel that makes it a stand out.

Final Notes

The album is well produced and performed, though some of the song structures feel a bit basic and generic. The musicianship is top notch, giving the basic structure a well defined “icing on the cake” that makes for a solid effort overall. Viribus Unitis does fall into the Melodic Metal category, though the emphasis should be on melodic as opposed to metal which seems a bit on the light side. All in all Viribus Unitis does offer fans of Symphonic and Melodic Metal a good concept record, and an album that is worth adding to the collection.

Lineup

Herbert Glos – Bass
Frederic Brünner – Drums
Andreas Poppernitsch – Guitars
Siegfried “The Dragonslayer” Samer – Vocals
Simon Saito – Guitars
Manuel Hartleb – Keyboards

Viribus Unitis – Tracklist

1. On the Blue Danube
2. Gods of War
3. Love You to Death
4. Magic
5. Darkness Within
6. A.E.I.O.U. (feat. Georg Neuhauser)
7. Viribus Unitis
8. Golden Dawn
10. Battle Royale
11. Legends Never Die
12. Haben Sie Wien Schon Bei Nacht Gesehn (Bonus Track)

Author

  • Bryce Van Patten

    Bryce is an audio engineer and a graphic designer here at Metal Express Radio. From the day he purchased his first album (Machine Head by Deep Purple), he has had a passion for heavy music, which has influenced his whole life. Bryce is from the great Pacific Northwest in USA, and has played in metal bands like Babylon, Holy Terror, The Wild Dogs, Warhead and Egypt through the 80s. He had his first interview for the Portland, Oregon publication The Rock Rag with guitarist Paul Gilbert in his Racer X days. Then he was honored to get to have drinks, and talk for an hour with the legendary Dan McCafferty of Nazareth for his second interview. In 2013, he spent an amazing hour talking to Andi Deris of Helloween, which was the high point of his heavy metal journalism.   In the year 2001, he formed Man in Black Music Publishing. They released recordings by several local bands, and in the spirit of the old Metal Massacre compilations, he created a 2-album series called The Defenders of Metal. The albums featured classic styled Metal bands from all around the world, with bands from Australia to England, and from Argentina to Russia. Currently, he is the producer/creator/vocalist of the Metal band The Black Tuesdays.

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