| Musical Style: Metal/Hard /Rock | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Soundmass | Country Of Origin: Sweden |
| Year Released: 2024 | Artist Website: The Hero |
| Tracks: 11 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 51:48 |
Stockholm, Sweden based The Hero satisfies hard music fans who want Gothic influenced metal but without the use of widespread extreme vocals. Enter front man, guitarist and founding member Michael Hero, who helps define the groups ‘dark, heavy, and melancholic metal’ (quoting its press material) with a lower register and baritone but melodic style perfectly aligned with the Gothic genre. Rounding out The Hero sound are ‘heavy guitars, thundering bass and bombastic drums’, again quoting its press material and noting the respective contributions of band mates Emanuel Wärja, Patrick Hero and Daniel ‘Davy Doom’ Mouton. Extreme vocals when utilized play a backend as opposed to leading role.
Actually, placing a ‘Gothic’ label on The Hero might be one dimensional and limiting in light of how it also places emphasis on power, symphonic, progressive and doom overtones. All of the above and more embody the Soundmass Records December of 2024 sixth The Hero album Monster Hunter. Previous to that The Hero got its start as an at times hard rock and others power metal act on earlier efforts Bless This Nation (2006) and Immortal (2009) ahead of embracing decided Gothic elements on follow up releases Afterlife (2013), Miracles (2017) and MMXX (2020).
Impression from albums opening title track is the quality production realized in a founding of well-placed rhythm guitar aligned with translucent keyboards and distinct low end to include breathing bass and imposing drums. Musically, “Monster Hunter” aligns lucid moments brimming of muscle and energy with others moderating to a darker semblance of a doleful form. Hence, the at times metal and others Gothic tinged attributes that define The Hero. Lyric snippet:
The snake comes crawling
And the wolf is at the door
Speak of the devil
He’s not welcome anymore
It’s enough, yeah
I am a monster hunter
Demon slayer
Destroyer of darkness
Devil hater
“Eternal & Glorious” brings a light medieval texturing found in the woodwinds and militant drums to its imperial opening instrumental moments. In between, song revels in verse sections running the gamut from downcast and moody to industrial style chaos ahead of a worshipful refrain backed by distant extreme vocals. Again, there is more to
The Hero than just ‘Gothic metal’.
“Don’t Give Up” touches upon a light progressiveness. Offbeat distortion and guitar harmonies carry the initial seconds previous to verse sections that start atmospheric and ethereal only to turn staunchly guitar driven, with the adamant force carried forward to the chanted (and quite catchy) refrain. Industrial style keyboards occasionally adorn the backend. Lyric snippet:
Why are the mountains high?
And the valleys look so deep
And why do we try to hide
The darkness deep inside
Try to scream for help
And open up the door
And try to let it out
And light will come your way
A symphonic ballad approach defines “We Must Never Forget”. With ringing church bells and ominous keyboards covering its first minute, song transitions to bleak piano and viola only to gradually build force until culminating for its classically inspired refrain aligned with double kick drum. What we have is by far the most creative piece I have heard from The Hero.
“Mayday Mayhem” impresses as power metal imbued with Gothic aspects. Song maintains the groups swarthy sensibilities - Michael Hero is at his baritone best alongside remove extreme vocals - but also ups heaviness as enterprising rhythm guitar and earsplitting low end play ambitious roles. Lyric snippet:
I thought I would never see
Some things I’ve seen today
And I can’t believe the news today
And I can see the violence grow
This world is going down in flames
I thought I would never hear
What I heard on the radio today
We need to start to pray
And I want to do what I can do
To make this a better place
Classic ballad “Oxygen” is albums moodiest and most forlorn, speaking of the stygian from drifting its length to low-key rhythm guitar and furbished vocal melodies. The constrained contexture does not pick up until procuring a disquiet refrain of an immediate complex. The Hero proves equally relevant when trending calmer territory.
“Hero Of The Day” opens its first two minutes instrumentally as Middle Eastern flavored rhythms give way to metal edged guitars. Transitioning to its initial verse sections, song finds the Middle Easter rhythms returning along with echoing harmonies with both yielding to the intractable rhythm guitar governing the contrastingly ascending refrain. This one is another example of The Hero successfully merging elements of the Gothic with that progressive. Lyric snippet:
What do we do when someone falls?
What do we do when someone calls?
Truth or dare?
Sleep or care?
All I want to say
Help your brother, pray
Do not turn away
Help your sister today
“Sinners Of The Century” represents a fast paced and peppery energy burst. It transitions its four and half minutes between emboldened traditional metal style guitars and condensed bass heavy moments to make by far albums most high-spirited and enthusiastic statement. The lead guitar work of Michael Hero and Emanuel Wärja align with the songs mettlesome form.
Ensuing are re-recorded versions to two songs appearing on second album Immortal. First “Blood Red Roses” combines aspects of the luxurious, as found in deeply woven vocal melodies playing a conspicuous role, and forthcoming, uncovered in the thickset (almost militant) timekeeping of Moulton. Intermittent keyboards almost have a techno effect. Lyric snippet:
Like a thief or criminal
Was executed on that hill
Where the flowers grew white as snow
Blood red roses
It means death, but are bringers of life
Blood red roses
They are all covered by blood
Blood red roses, yeah
Second “Punch In The Face” fails to live up to its aggressive namesake as a six-minute Gothic rock ballad. It proves chilling as bleak piano and keyboards speak of the doleful but also contrastingly plainspoken as recurrent rhythm guitar unfolds to strike a formidable blow. Songs regal and lofty bearing provides a seamless transition to minute and half doom saddled closing instrumental “The Sound Of The Seven Trumpets”.
Monster Hunter presents as the most cohesive and consistent album from The Hero. Ten equally good songs and excellent production backed by lower register vocals and solid musicianship equates to an album I anticipate returning for repeat listen. One of the main indicators in this regard is manner in which The Hero reflects a Gothic sound but without overdoing it from an extreme standpoint. Further aspects of power, progressive and doom metal provide further value. Fans of The Hero or Gothic music in its various forms are encouraged to make Monster Hunter a priority purchase.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Monster Hunter” (4:40), “Eternal & Glorious” (4:50), “Don’t Give It Up” (5:03), “We Must Never Forget” (5:17), “Mayday Mayhem” (5:10), “Oxygen” (4:50), “Hero Of The Day” (5:29), “Sinners Of The Century” (4:34), “Blood Red Roses” (4:53), “Punch In The Face” (5:59), “The Sound Of The Seven Trumpets” (1:21)
Musicians
Michael Hero - Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Emanuel Wärja – Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Patrick Hero - Bass
Daniel ‘Davy Doom’ Mouton - Drums
