| Musical Style: Metal/Hard Rock | Produced By: Jeff Grady & Kelly Matthews |
| Record Label: Roxx Records | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2024 | Artist Website: Lordchain |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 44:09 |
Lordchain has won over plenty of hard music fans with its amalgamating of groove driven hard rock, unabashed heavy metal and light modern overtones. With the August of 2024 release to its Roxx Records eleventh full-length album The Chastisement Of Our Peace, the Caruthersville, Missouri based power trio builds upon its musical repertoire by expanding into progressive territory. Those lacking affinity for lengthy songwriting and other trappings inherent to the progressive genre need not worry in that Lordchain is imbuing progressive elements to only a couple tracks as opposed to going all out ‘prog’. In other words, the group is adding another dimension to its already well-rounded sound and stretching its musical boundaries in the process!
What has not changed is the Lordchain lineup of Kelly Matthews (lead vocals, drums & bass), Matthew Jones (keyboards & piano) and Jeff Grady (guitar), whom represent the constants to the groups three previous albums. Predecessor Surviving The Wicked Storm (noting the 80% Angelic Warlord review) came out in 2022 also on Roxx Records, while The Shadow Project and Civil War were independently released in 2020 and 2019, respectively (85% reviews either way). The maintaining by Lordchain of such roster continuity results in it potentially composing some of its most accomplished material to date.
Consider full-length opener “Bittersweet Grace” in this capacity, a tense borderline metal cut in which the group’s rhythm section shines in terms of larger than life bass and enterprising double kick drum, noting the work of Matthews either way. The song otherwise kicks up a disquiet storm as vexing guitar driven stretches trade off with cyclic passages that temper to tranquil piano. Lyric snippet:
Bittersweet grace
Raining down on me
Tears on my face
No matter what, I still believe
In the midst of pain
You still know my name
I take to ensuing Alice Cooper cover “Wicked Young Man” (off Brutal Planet from 2000). It musically fits the album with its stressing of thickset guitars and darker tinges alongside Matthews every bit correlative rough and tumble (in a positive sense) vocal proclivity. The same agitated discomfort to the original rises to the surface in the process. Song also fits lyrically in aligning with the current event based center to several tracks here:
I like to run my body on heavy, heavy fuel
I can punch through a wall, I can kick like a mule
I got a pocket full of bullets and a blueprint of the school
I’m the devil’s little soldier, I’m the devil’s little tool
Who am I?
I am a vicious young man
I am a wicked young man
It’s not the games that I play
The movies I see
The music I dig
I’m just a wicked young man
“I Can’t Sleep” is another well-conditioned mauler. With clashing symbols to start, it ups pace to speed based territory, uncovered in verse sections deferring to another prompt bass line, albeit slowing at moments notice, made plain in the shadowy (and quite gripping) refrain. Grady puts on a clinic with his impenetrable rhythm guitar and slicing lead work.
Albums title track is first of two cuts to take said progressive heading. It comes in at just under six minutes, which I believe is a record span for Lordchain, whom is renowned for composing mostly three to four minute groove rockers. “The Chastisement Of Our Peace” proves predominant in capacity as dismantling rhythm guitar dives in and out of the mix with an equally blocky rhythm section providing full support. The excellent production - all instrumentation crisply separates in the mix - allows the passion oozing from the band to stand out that much further. A time signature, however, over the final minute and half trends to a calmer piano and feedback laced heading. Lyrics are every bit powerful as the music:
He was wounded for our transgressions
Bruised for iniquities
The chastisement of our peace was upon him
And by his stripes we are healed
Rejected by his own, the chief cornerstone
He carried my cross, he took my place
He died for our sins, the beginning and the end
We can now abide under his grace
“Twenty-First Century Logic” preserves the hard rock groove but within a doom context. Impetus slogs and drags in menacing fashion as husky bass overseas the low end, the bleak overtures point to Place Of Skulls, albeit the arresting is not forsaken, validating the subtle hooks emanating from the slugging refrain. Instrumental moments build upon the direful consequences. Lordchain finds itself comfortably at home on this one.
Placid guitar carries the quiescent opening seconds to “We Close Our Eyes (Welcome To Dystopia)”, with drum solo to start followed by upbeat momentum of a vehement form. Vocals again fragment with authority as the song plunders through its subsequent fleet verse sections, keeping in mind that the vitriolic ambience alleviates as layered vocal melodies hold sway over the surprisingly lush refrain. Credit the group for the creative use of flute during the instrumental run. Lyric snippet:
We close our eyes
It’s time to wake up and live
Violence is growing, another innocent is gone
Politicians fake a smile; the charade carries on
Children are trafficked, the unborn legally killed
It’s easier to ignore if we just take our pills
“I Will Live Again” jump-starts at once to an assertive tempo, full throttle with an in-your-face mentality mirroring the expeditious as the groups metal side reveals but without forsaking its innate sense of groove. Song only decelerates (if barely) for the every bit consequential refrain. I take to the time signature to an acoustic passage with narration that gives way to an intense lead guitar run. Lyric snippet:
I thought that I wasn’t good enough
I listened to the whispers of deceit
But then God told me different
He has called and chosen me
Open your eyes
This is no time to die
This is your chance
Break the chains
“Your World Is Not My Own” reveals a more melodic tone while upholding the brash basis. It negotiates between moments breathing of delicate piano and bass and others in which bluesy hard rock guitar holds sway. I between, the moderately tempered refrain suggests of a commercial basis. I would choose this one for radio play.
Album closes to eight and half minute epic “Sacrosanct II: Reflections Of Memories”. The Lordchain progressive side fully realizes and in the most complimentary sense, as it journeys through lush piano and acoustic guitar, fusion filled instrumental excursions with a jazzy flair (highlighting added flute), catchy refrains and elevated speed metal romps. Such creative distinctness allows the song to remain a fresh listen despite the span. Progressive fans of course rejoice; if not a fan I encourage you to give a song that in my opinion challenges for finest of the year the time and attention it deserves- and not just musically but also lyrically:
It seems like yesterday
I had my innocence
The child-like wonder
It has long been spent
If I had the chance
To do it over again
How would I change
And how would it all end
Where has the time gone
Reflections of memories
Where has the time gone
Coming back to haunt me
The Chastisement Of Our Peace is the best album I have heard from Lordchain, which is saying a lot in light of the quality to its back catalog. Albums value resides in the top notch but varied songwriting bringing high-energy numbers, slower doom-like pieces, a fine Alice Cooper cover and intricate progressive numbers all interwoven with the Lordchain signature sense of groove I appreciate equally how the group extends its musical boundaries, noting the use of flute on two tracks. The excellent production lends further value. If a fan of Lordchain or musical forms presented, I encourage making The Chastisement Of Our Peace a priority purchase.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Innocence Before Oblivion (Intro)” (:29), “Bittersweet Grace” (4:38), “Wicked Young Man” (4:00), “I Can’t Sleep” (3:54), “The Chastisement Of Our Peace” (5:53), “Twenty-First Century Logic” (4:12), “We Close Our Eyes (Welcome To Dystopia)” (4:15), “I Will Live Again” (4:34), “Your World Is Not My Own” (3:45), “Sacrosanct II: Reflections Of Memories” (8:25)
Musicians
Kelly Matthews - Lead Vocals, Drums, Bass & Guitar
Jeff Grady - Guitar
Matthew Jones - Piano & Keyboards
Additional Musicians
Jamie Holmes - Flute
Rick Koeshall, David Fain & Cris Brown - Intro vocals on “Sacrosanct II”
