| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: Jens Jorgensen |
| Record Label: Independent | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2024 | Artist Website: Epic Bard |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 75% |
| Running Time: |
What’s in a bands name? Plenty when it comes to Epic Bard. EPIC in terms of lyrical topics covered but not limited to loss, fighting against Satan and sin and understanding that we are a Holy Creation. BARD from standpoint of Conroe, Texas based founding member and multi-instrumentalist Jens Jorgensen, whom takes a ‘one man band project’ approach by handling all aspects of the writing, recording and instrumentation processes on the Epic Bard November of 2024 sophomore album A Different View. Epic Bard got its start in November of 2022 with its debut full length Falls Like Rain.
In the words of the artist: ‘Epic Bard is a solo project I started a few years ago. My goal is to provide music that can help other's understand God's passion for us. My music reflects my journey and experiences, and my love for my Holy Father’.
Do not be dissuaded in that Epic Bard is NOT epic in terms of songwriting - no Neal Morse style twenty minute plus ‘mega epics’ here - nor musical direction, artist bypasses any form of epic power and progressive metal (no Theocracy influences either). Rather, what we have in Epic Bard is a joining of straightforward heavy metal and melodic thrash and speed metal with light extreme nuances. There is no need for concern, however, in that any extreme aspects to the Epic Bard sound are limited to occasional backed ‘growled’ vocals that enhance as opposed to detract.
Album gets off to a bombastic start with two and half minute slugger “Corinthians”. It kicks in at once to a raised tempo, guitars crash in traditional metal fashion and drums pummel with interminable authority, and does not let up its length, the storm like fury approaches the speed based. Immediate impression from production is slightly raw in allowing enough polish but not so much as to take away from the focused energy. Lyric snippet:
Love is patient
Love is kind
It does not envy
Does not aggrandize
It's not proud
It's not rude
Never egotistical
And now these three remain
Faith, hope, and love
But the greatest of these
Is Love
“Impossible Your Truth” follows in upping the chaotic facets. Equally heavy and expeditious, song hits particularly hard with an aggressive edge - refrain is a thunderous cacophony of detonating double kick drum - but is also not the most gripping, bypassing the repetitive but riff driven all the same. Overall, while far from bad, I struggle to identify with some of the overriding thrash signatures, which serve to go over my head. I see thrash connoisseurs better embracing this one.
“Deep Down Inside” represents a choice cut with its embodying the melodic and aggressive. It opens to acoustic guitar over rolling drums ahead of guitar rushing in, revealing a bluesy metal essence as it escalates in force but also makes several excursions to intricate instrumental territory, artists lead work is more melodic as opposed to riff driven. The mid-point and closing guttural backing vocals strongly repeating songs title further reinforce the gritty hooks to take hold. Lyric snippet:
I know you feel it too
You are creation
Follow truth
Deep Down Inside
The war is real
The struggle too
Fight against the evil that seeks to claim you
Deep down inside
Three songs in and one of the limitations to ‘one man band projects’ reveals: it is rare for one person to cover equally well all aspects of the recording process. At some point ‘cracks are going to form’, and as it pertains to Epic Bard impression is Jorgensen is a natural songwriter, guitarist and bassist but vocals are not necessarily ingrained to him. In no way do vocals hold things back or are fundamentally flawed, but I also cannot help but think a front man along lines of Chaz Bond (Biogenesis) with a varied style ranging from the melodic to lower register might bring the project greater acclaim.
“Take A Moment” starts to open-air guitar and a growl prior to galloping forward at a heightened tempo to double kick drum and classic metal style riffing, albeit occasionally decelerating for calmer moments imbued with acoustic guitar. Refrain is incredibly catchy (one of albums strongest) as the extreme vocals return to bolster the vinegary angst.
Interestingly, the opening instrumental seconds to “Chaff In The Wind” are backed by classical bass with a jazz-fusion feel. Rest of the way the song takes a melodic heading, wonderfully catchy guitar harmonies play a principal role, but also touching upon power metal, rooted in the technical riffing throughout. What we have is the third great song in a row. Lyric snippet:
When we face fear
When our troubled hearts appear
You are so close
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
As the enemy draws near
Only with you I am here
To break the idols down
As Chaff in the wind, burned down
“Father Of Lies” represents three and half minutes of fleet speed metal. It maintains a mercurial basis from the start, establishing on a memorable riff foundation but conveyed by equally practiced outbursts of double bass venom. Flaming lead guitar complements the distinguished fury.
The jazzy elements from “Chaff In The Wind” return at the start of “We Can Make It”. Force, however, abruptly initiates at full tilt as onslaughts of foremost indignation take over rest of the way, as distant but distinct hooks prevail alongside equally separated growled backend vocals. A melodic sense reveals in the periodic collected harmonies. Lyric snippet:
We can make it I swear
We will never stop trying
A moment now spent has returned again
Time's a restraint which denies
A love that is held when feeling
And we die
The future once thought lost in sorrow
The Son will rise
“Midnight Mornings” defines as another high-octane sprinter. It jump starts instrumentally to a frantic inclining of breakneck guitar and clashing symbols, rushing headlong interspersed with intermittent growled vocals but not forsaking the Epic Bard aptitude for outlying but intrinsic melody. A cool bass solo initiates the mid-point instrumental run.
“Dream of Deception” is distinctive to the hard hitting and melodic. In terms of former, song erupts at moments notice to thrash-like outbursts bordering on the hard core, while from standpoint of latter, decelerates at key points for more graceful passages to see composed harmonies hold sway. Punctuated bass rises above the mix to build upon the intricate layering. Lyric snippet:
Wanting more
Grasping for
A bigger piece of the
Doomed world
Pray for sight
A wisdom to see right
Atone for sin
Let His light flow in
Album closes to instrumental “Surfside Strut”, two and half minutes of surfer music and rockabilly interspersed with metal riffs that while outside the box is quirkily catchy, a bit weird but also a fun listen.
As a ‘one man band project’ of Jens Jorgensen, Epic Bard exhibits a great deal of songwriting potential on sophomore effort A Different View. Artist successfully weaves songs embodying straightforward metal and thrash nuances with enough delectable melody to allow for decisive repeat listen. Any extreme elements enhance albums material without overriding or distracting. I encourage artist moving forward to build upon such musical direction and aptitude but also not limit himself to a ‘one man band project’ by recruiting other musicians to take part in any Epic Bard album he records in the future.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Corinthians” (2:30), “Impossible Your Truth” (4:08), “Deep Down Inside” (4:08), “Take A Moment” (5:01), “Chaff In The Wind” (4:37), “Father Of Lies” (3:25), “We Can Make It” (5:04), “Midnight Mornings” (3:32), “Dream Of Deception” (3:12), “Surfside Strut” (2:41)
Musicians
Jens Jorgensen - Lead Vocals, Guitars, Bass & Programming
