| Musical Style: Metal/Hard Rock | Produced By: Erik Tilling |
| Record Label: Roxx Records | Country Of Origin: Sweden |
| Year Released: 2022 | Artist Website: All For The King |
| Tracks: 14 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 47:03 |
Melodic hard rock plus modern rock tendencies: It’s been a surefire winning formula for Sweden’s All For The King since the 2017 release of its Connection Records self-titled debut full length. Playing what it refers to as ‘classic hard rock with a modern sound’, All For The King ‘places strong emphasis on catchy melodies’ while it also ‘touches upon enough melodic metal and hard rock moments that allows it to fall within the Angelic Warlord style guidelines’ (quoting my 80% review to All For The King). More of the same but better with the Roxx Records August of 2022 All For The King sophomore album Let There Be Light, referencing how the group further refines its strong melody penchant in composing some of its finest material to date while pushing the boundaries of its heaviness to within metal territory.
Playing no small role in this regard either way is vocalist Ricard Hulteke, whom many will recognize from having worked with Narnia guitarist Carl Johan Grimmark as part of Empire 21 and the melodic power metal to its self-titled debut full length from 2014. Hulteke brings an earthy and gravely vocal presence allowing him to remain in step with the All For The King heavier tendencies but also a melodic slant to find him build upon the groups reinforcing of the accessible. Further helping All For The King take the next step musically is how it benefits from the continuity of maintaining the core debut lineup in that joining Hulteke is guitarist Erik Tilling, bassist Andreas Alöv and drummer Anders Köllerfors.
Of note is how All For The King was formed in 2016 by Hulteke and Tilling as a result of a mutual yearning to share their faith. Accordingly, All For The King remains committed to ‘(preaching) the Gospel to a lost society that at times appears to run without a compass, while telling people that there is a God who cares for them in the midst of it all and wants to guide them and carry them through life’s journeys and storms’ (in quoting its press material).
Let There Be Light comes in at a mammoth 14 songs, with the core of the album made up of 10 full-length songs and a shorter interlude piece. Rounding things out are two bonus tracks (one featuring Ulf Christiansson of Jerusalem) and an unnamed ‘hidden’ song at the end. Album title track is first of the ten in question. It proves quintessential All For The King, catchy with its profound hook focal point but equally heavy in terms of the resounding guitar crunch. Further variety manifests in the form of distant keyboards and acoustic guitar.
It has been my experience with albums featuring such a high volume of songs to include at least one or two a notch below the others and such is the case with “I Am He”. As another upbeat hard rocker, it is far from bad and certain not falling within filler territory, but in my opinion also is a bit plain from lacking the immediately noticeable hooks to albums stronger material. Lyric snippet:
When they got there He asked them,
‘Who is it that you want?’
The men carrying weapons said,
‘Jesus Christ of Nazareth…’
He said,
‘I am He’
They drew back
Fell to the ground
When I Am speaks all must bow
Others I gravitate to better such as “The Way, Truth And Life”. Perhaps it is due to a pop essence or the fact Hulteke adds some bluesy grit to his delivery also John Schlitt, but the two and half minute piece (albums shortest) brings to mind Petra. Also not unlike Petra, melody is not lacking nor the mirthful proclivity to draw in with repeat play.
Another choice track is “The Shelter” of which the group recorded a video. It maneuvers in hard rock fashion from the get to, perseverant in powering through its staunch verse sections only to break out in lively fashion for an even refrain with a worshipful veneer. This is another track to embody the purposeful All For The King sound with its joining of the focused and decisively melodic. Lyric snippet:
We are all fallen
We need the Savior
We are all broken
But He is The Way!
And we will always take shelter
In His loving arms
And we will stand up together
And hold on to love
All For The King gets creative with its loose rendering to “St. Patrick’s Prayer”, loose as in how it captures only one small verse to the medieval hymn. Song otherwise touches upon the gentler side to the All For The King sound, delicate with its sinuous guitars and royal keyboards but not forsaking the heavier, as guitars periodically push to the front of the mix. I identify with it as a transitional piece separating albums more commercial first half with its metal driven second.
Speaking of which despite the clichéd title, “Metal Gods” lives up to its namesake with walls of churning guitars and equally brazen momentum not to mention the melodic in reference to a catchy refrain to see keyboards play a highlighting role. Tilling tops things off with a fantastic lead guitar run. Lyric snippet:
Our God has no equal, He’s in control
When he measures the mountains
The dead golden idols are numb
They have hands but cannot feel
Throats but cannot talk
We become what we worship
Who will get your praise?
“Let God Be God” starts slow in pointing to ballad territory only to pick up pace abruptly and turn into an anthem-like hard rocker. Song points to the thickset, plowing with its decisive low end and abrading instincts, but also catchy, accented by moving vocal harmonies to play an uplifting role.
“Moneychangers” continues the role of metal-based tracks, opening appropriately to the sound of falling coins ahead of wailing sirens and hard charging guitars. An almost chugga-chugga-chugga mentality persist as some of albums heaviest moments reveal, almost approaching classic metal but without backing from the engaging focus as hooks again draw in over long term. Lyric snippet:
We don’t trade the truth
For what suits us best
There are rules to follow
A Book of love to guide us
We’ll not bend the faith
For what suits our life
Word of God is sharp
Rebukes attitudes of heart
“Blazing Fire”, another shorter piece at just below three minutes, reflects many of those modern undercurrents in terms of rhythm guitar tones and distorted vocals. An upbeat mentality otherwise prevails, revealed in a spirited mindset and subtle but definitive hooks.
Album reaches its apex with magnum opus closing cut “The Return Of The King”. It separates with an experimental-progressive flair in which narration from Matthew 24 intersperses with an apocalyptic (and quite memorable) refrain derivative of the subject at hand:
It’s the return of the King
When God His Kingdom will bring
It’s the return of the King
His glory angels will sing
Hard rock guitars backed by Hammond B3 plays an underpinning role on what in my opinion is a song of the year candidate.
As for the bonus material, “Song Of The Lamb” represents a minute of keyboard based worship rock that gives way to another of albums stronger cuts in “The Seventh Seal”. With drum solo to start, song sledgehammers its way as Hulteke’s smoothes his register with an almost Dio-ish vibe in singing alongside the lower register sentiments of guest vocalist Ulf Christensen (Jerusalem). An almost power metal vibe persists from the grand and stately bent to pour forth in the process.
The “Unidentified” song proves another favorite in approaching the doom-like with its trenchant riffs and plodding harmonies. Low end receives quite the workout as Alöv shines with an audible bass line alongside Köllerfors’ technical timekeeping, with the two separating during the trudging instrumental moments to highlight more Hammond B3.
All For The King improves all aspects of its game on Let There Be Light when placed alongside the self-titled debut, a fine album in its own right. I take to the manner in which the group weaves its material with notable hooks and melodies not to mention musicianship and vocals of equal form. Production is of a similar level. Lone complaint is that in encompassing 14 songs album is a bit long winded and might flow better if cut by a couple of tracks. Regardless, if a fan of the debut or any form of melodic metal and hard rock albeit not without an occasional modern edge, make Let There Be Light a priority purchase.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “The Six-Winged Seraphim” (:48), “Let There Be Light” (3:32), “I Am He” (3:23), “The Way, Truth And Life” (2:41), “The Shelter” (4:18), “St. Patrick’s Prayer” (3:56), “Metal Gods” (3:40), “Let God Be God” (3:20), “Moneychangers” (3:28), “Blazing Fire” (2:59), “The Return Of The King” (4:47), “Song Of The Lamb” (:48), “The Seventh Seal” (3:35), “Unidentified” (5:45)
Musicians
Ricard Hulteke - Lead Vocals
Erik Tilling - Guitars
Andreas Alöv - Bass
Anders Köllerfors - Drums
Additional Musicians
Ulf Christiansson - Lead Vocals
Richard Tonyson - Drums
