Musical Style: Heavy Metal	Produced By: Sardonyx
Record Label: Roxx Records	Country Of Origin: USA
Year Released: 2025	Artist Website: Sardonyx
Tracks: 7	Rating: 90%
Running Time: 36:36

Surely Anthems Of Warfare, the fall of 2025 Roxx Records third album from Sardonyx, carries over the musical and lyrical pedigree to its predecessors.  It does and it doesn’t.  Whereas Anthems Of Warfare finds the group continuing to draw upon classic US power metal and traditional heavy metal, it separates from initial offerings Majestic Serenity (1992) and Sons Of The Kingdom (2018) by truncating its songwriting into the 4 to 6 minute range as opposed to any previous 7 to 8 minute progressive proclivity.  Perhaps it is due to the abbreviated songwriting, but Anthems Of Warfare further diverges with higher levels of accessibility found from manner in which each of its 7 tracks compelled me in on immediate play.  Contrast this with Majestic Serenity and Sons Of The Kingdom, which required several listens in order to garner my attention despite the fact I hold each in high regard, referencing my respective 80% and 90% reviews.

What has not changed is the fact Sardonyx remains a ministry-based band.  In terms of specifics, the group’s intention is to ‘not only to make good music, but to use the music to teach the Bible, make disciples of Jesus Christ and build up His Body’ (quoting its press material).  Point being that Sardonyx considers itself ‘missionaries to the metal world’ with the goal of ‘(introducing) people to their Creator and show them His love’ (again, groups press material either way).  Anthems Of Warfare further stays true to the Sardonyx mission with a theme based upon ‘Old Testament warfare and worship’ in that each of its songs features Moses, Abraham, Gideon, the Angel of the Lord, Deborah, the Levites, Solomon, Daniel and David’s Mighty Men.  Once more, in the words of the group:

‘The Old Testament is filled with types of Christ. A ‘type’ is a person, event, or object in the Old Testament that is intentionally designed by God to predict or point forward to Jesus Christ’.

“Song Of The Levites” exemplifies the traditional to power metal-based Sardonyx sound.  Song starts to several seconds of ominous overtures that give way to the surging momentum triggering its length, passionate as vocalist and founding member Tom Denlinger unveils the full range to his eloquent mid-ranged vocal abilities, and refrain touches upon the worshipful:

Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, Worthy, Worthy Is the Lamb

Symphony X comes to mind as the instrumental run darkens for portent keyboards and foreboding lead guitar.  Lyric snippet:

I sing for Your Glory (Psalm 66:2, Psalm 138:5)
You go before us to the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 31:8, Exodus 13:21, Joshua 23:5)
Your secret things reveal Your story (Deuteronomy 29:29, Matthew 13:34-35, Colossians 1:26)
You give me strength to stand (Psalm 18:1, Psalm 46:1, Colossians 1:11)
I will be strong - I’m not afraid (Joshua 1:9, Psalm 27:1, Isaiah 12:2)

“Mighty Warrior” is not so much albums best song as it is a potential song of the year candidate.  An inspired metal anthem, it proves uplifted with its exultant mentality - noting the imperious if not imposing posture - but staggering in terms of brash swagger, pinpointing the gallantly gripping refrain.  The best aspects of Barren Cross and Sacred Warrior come to mind.  Lyric snippet (Ephesians 6:10-20):

I’m a Mighty Warrior
Standin’ for my King this why I sing
Mighty Warrior
All glory to Him is what I bring
Mighty Warrior
Without Him I cannot stand
Mighty Warrior
I’ll praise His Name all across this land.

I identify with “Be Life The Sun” as a first rate melodic heavy metal ballad.  Song comes across in form of a duet, with Denlinger joined by an unidentified guest soprano female vocalist playing the role of the warrior-prophetess Deborah.  Song preserved the sublime configuring - refrain impresses of the immaculate and glorious as avid guitar presses in - with an empyreal contexture, lucid guitar adorns the delicate verse sections.  Lyric snippet:

You are the LORD of all, the kings all bow before You
The earth shook and the heavens rained
The mountains gushed before You (Judges 5:3-5)
You are our God. Your enemies gone! We worship You together
Let those who love You, be like the sun - burning bright forevermore (Judges 5:31)

“Man Of War” restores the heavier inclining.  As albums lengthiest at six and half minutes, song proves a showcase for the skills of long-term guitarist Rod Feltman, whom decorates its span with uncompromising but understatedly catchy mid-tempo guitars riffs (Jimmy P. Brown II of Deliverance could not do it better) next to soloing of a whirlwind form (sort of like Sacred Warrior’s Bruce Swift).  Lyric snippet:

You are the Lord of all (Psalm 24:1, Psalm 47:2, Revelation 17:14)
You stretched out your Hand and the earth consumed them (vs. 12)
You are a man of war (vs. 3, Revelation 19:11)
The Lord is Your Name - You are my salvation (vs. 2, Psalm 25:5, Psalm 62:2)
Your strong, right hand, oh Lord (Exodus 13:9, Psalm 136:12)
Is glorious in power - they are dashed in pieces (vs. 6)
They sank like lead and stone (vs. 5)
The nations will hear and fear Your great Name (vs. 14-16, Psalm 102:15)

“The Angel Of The Lord” is another favorite.  Song grooves from the get go to thickly piled rhythm guitar over a contentious low end footing to reveal a power-thrash basis, all the more so in light of the harsh (borderline extreme) voice intermittently repeating ‘the angel of the Lord’ title in catchy fashion.  Over the second half impetus slows to a standstill for dramatic narration from 2 Kings: 19:35.  Lyric snippet:

You are Holy One (Psalm 71:22, Isaiah 29:19, Luke 1:35)
Pre-incarnate Worthy One (Psalm 18:3, Hebrews 3:3, Revelation 5:9)
I hide my face, Your Glory consumes me (Exodus 24:17, Hebrews 12:29, Deuteronomy 5:24-26, 2 Chronicles 7:1-3)
I can’t stand before You (Leviticus 9:23-24, 1 Kings 8:10-11)
Creation waits to see Your sons revealed Your Kingdom is coming (Romans 8:19-21, Isaiah 9:7, Matthew 24:14)

“Face To The Ground” reveals the Sardonyx progressive side.  Time signatures galore exist, beginning with the melancholic opening minute steadied by Chuck Turner’s steady bass line but also including the subsequent minute to see incentive gradually expand as guitar smites in to turn a song up to that point laid back into a full on slugger.  The militant riffs to take over lead the way to the layered and intricately sweeping refrain- one of albums strongest.  I wish the group had added a couple added minutes to the somewhat brief four and half minute span.  Still, a great song.  Lyric snippet:

Come down and fill Your House with Your Glory (2 Chronicles 5:13-14, 7:1, Exodus 40:34-35, Psalm 24:7-10)
No one can stand for You are Holy (Genesis 17:1-3, Matthew 17:5-6, 1 Kings 18:38-39)
Dwell in the dark cloud (1 Kings 8:12, Exodus 14:19-20, Psalm 97:2)
Your thick clouds around You (Psalm 18:11-12, Exodus 19:9)
Face to the ground, Your Presence fills the room (filling) (Leviticus 9:23-24, Ezekiel 44:4, Acts 2:1-4)

Album closes strongly to “Shine Like The Stars”.  Another lengthier piece at six minutes, it launches at once to a near speed-based tempo, rollicking to a riff near mesmerizing with its persuasive appeal but also compelling in light of the regal authority imbuing the instant refrain.  Lending to the glorious honor is a decelerated mid-point passage including narration from Daniel 10:11.  Lyric snippet:

Oh, great and awesome God (Daniel 9:4, Deuteronomy 7:21, Nehemiah 1:5)
You keep Your covenant and mercy (Deuteronomy 7:9, 1 Kings 8:23, Nehemiah 9:32)
Towards those who obey Your Word (Deuteronomy 7:12-13, 12:28, Exodus 20:6)
We have rebelled! You poured out Your indignation (Daniel 9:5, 11-13, Deuteronomy 9:7-8, Romans 2:8)
Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! (Daniel 9:19, 2 Chronicles 7:14, 1 John 1:9)
Do not delay for Your own sake, my God (Psalm 70:5)
Save Your nation - called by Your name (Psalm 28:9, Jeremiah 31:7, Deuteronomy 28:10)
Hear my prayer - we bow down and say that… (Daniel 9:17-18, Psalm 102:1-2, 2 Chronicles 20:18)

At just seven songs and 36 minutes, Anthems Of Warfare walks a fine line between EP and full-length territory.  Either way it makes excellent use of its time in that each song is a well above the line at times power based and others traditional metal winner.  Denlinger’s ever-emotional vocal delivery proves crucial in imparting the warfare and worshipful Old Testament themes.  Lone complaint is that I wish the album were long- include 2 to 3 additional songs on similar level and Anthems Of Warfare potentially rates in the 95% category.  Regardless, credit Roxx Records for making the album available on CD, noting how the group released Anthems Of Warfare in 2024 as a series of singles.

Review by Andrew Rockwell

Track Listing: “Song Of The Levites” (4:56), “Mighty Warrior” (4:21), “Be Like The Sun” (5:40), “Man Of War” (6:29), “The Angel Of The Lord” (4:48), “Face To The Ground” (4:23), “Shine Like The Stars” (5:57)

Musicians
Tom Denlinger - Lead Vocals
Rod Feltman - Guitar
Chuck Turner - Bass