HOLY GRAIL — Ride the Void (review)

HOLY GRAIL — Ride the Void album cover Album · 2013 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Ride the Void" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US, Pasadena, California based heavy/power metal act Holy Grail. The album was released through Nuclear Blast Records in 2013. Since the release of "Crisis in Utopia (2010)" there´s been one change in the lineup as guitarist James J. LaRue has been replaced by Alex Lee.

The music on "Ride the Void" is a melodic style of heavy metal with the occasional nod towards power metal when the music is most fast-paced and anthemic. The harmony guitar work is actually not too far removed from the guitar work by a contemporary artist like Avenged Sevenfold, but Holy Grail relies much more on traditional heavy metal virtues than the more mainstream oriented Avenged Sevenfold. Still a comparison isn´t all wrong as they both belong in the more polished and melodic end of the heavy metal spectrum. Because of the occasional use of raw vocals there is also a slight metalcore influence on "Ride the Void", but it´s a minor stylistic element and this is first and foremost a melodic heavy metal album. Galloping rythms, blazing lead guitar and harmony guitar work and a lead vocalist with a strong voice.

Holy Grail are a very well playing act and their dexterity and speed are at times very impressive. "Ride the Void" is also a very well produced album and the listener is met by a professional and powerful sound. I´m a bit more reluctant to praise the songwriting equally much though. The tracks are as such well written and powerful enough, but I don´t feel like I´m listening to something that´s entirely unique or something that has a lot of impact on me as a listener. It´s the kind of album that´s enjoyable enough while it plays, but not that memorable after it´s finished. To my ears it falls into the catagory of being pretty great but not really excellent and a 3.5 star (70%) rating is warranted.
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