adg211288 ...Of Conquest (2014) is the third full-length album by Canadian folk metal act Scythia. It was self-released by the band in both physical and digital formats. It's been three years since the last Scythia album ...Of Exile (2011) although they did also release an EP, For the Bear (2012) in the gap between the albums. ...Of Conquest represents something of a departure for the group though with the main focus of their music shifting from folk metal to power metal.

And Scythia's take on power metal is an incredibly varied one. ...Of Conquest is like a rotating blend of folk-power metal, symphonic power metal and progressive power metal with a few extreme metal influences thrown in as well in the form of growling vocals. Most of the vocals are sung cleanly though as is normal for a power metal release. Frontman Dave Khan's voice strikes me as something of an acquired taste (I like him though) but is especially suitable for the most folk influenced of the music as the mini-epic Bear Claw Tavern will demonstrate. His voice gives the album an overarching folk vibe even when the music itself has turned towards either pure or symphonic based power metal. Khan is joined at different times during the album by bassist Terry Savage who does the growls, and to a lesser extent drummer Celine Derval also provides some lead vocals, as in the intro of Reflections.

Instantly impressive, ...Of Conquest is the sort of album that sets the standard for other releases from the genre to better. Scythia blend their folk, symphonic and progressive influences into the core power metal sound flawlessly. Despite the chopping and changing of ideas the album flows incredibly well and never feels mishmashed. You've got incredibly lively folk-power metal like Bear Claw Tavern to slower paced balladry in Land of Scythia to dramatic symphonic influenced pieces like Rise of the Kraken, which also happens to feature a very progressive rock sounding keyboard solo section to round it off. The progressive elements in the songs can strike at any time, particularly in solo sections but there is none more progressive than the album's epic length track Path Through the Labyrinth. All the songs I have mentioned by name are definite highlights of the album but it would be wrong to not also namedrop Sailor's Accolade and Army of the Bear in particular.

...Of Conquest is an early highlight of 2014 for both power and folk metal and I'm sure that despite the on/off use of folk melodies and instrumentation the release will be of equal interest to fans of both styles.