| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Roxx Records | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2021 | Artist Website: Weapons Of God |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 66:16 |
Weapons Of God has stepped up all aspects of its game with the September of 2021 release to its Roxx Records sophomore album The War Within US. Maintaining the self-described ‘positive metal’ faith positioned lyrics approach of its 2019 self-titled debut (also Roxx), the Dayton, Ohio based four piece impresses this reviewer as a merging of traditional and melodic metal tinted with decided classic US power metal, doom and progressive metal nuances. Hence, manner in which Weapons Of God - drawing its name from Ephesians 6:10-20 - is spot on in terms of its influences (as outlined in its press material): Kiss, Stryper, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Led Zeppelin
When placed alongside its 75% Angelic Warlord reviewed debut, The War Within US finds Weapons Of God taking its songwriting to the next level. Specifically, the album highlights greater consistency along with more distinct hooks and weightier guitar riffs to draw in with repeat play. Vocals also improve in that I take to the gruff and husky mid-ranged style, which aligns with the muscular nature to the group’s sound, as does production, with an added dose of crisp polish to allow instrumentation to further separate. Aftermath is the musical maturity and growth made by a talented band benefiting from the continuity of carrying over the same lineup from one album to the next.
Album opening three and a half minute instrumental opener “Deep Wordless Knowledge” fades in to ringing bells and classical instrumentation ahead of narration in a scholarly voice (akin to Deliverance’s “Supplication” off Weapons Of Our Warfare) trading off with sleek guitar harmonies. It helps sets the stages for the albums theme (again referencing its press material):
‘The War Within US is about the war and destruction of the world, the war within our country and the war within our minds. Hence, the "US" is capitalized in the title for the United States and for each of US for the personal and daily fight against the spiritual warfare of evil and its temptations’.
Eight-minute epic “War Within” ensues. It begins to a conglomerate of machine gun fire and wailing car alarms that give way to chunky guitars to power in and out of the mix, with a churning, mid-paced animosity upheld the remaining way as exuberant clean vocals contrast with occasional extreme backing vocals. All the while, Greg Alan’s timekeeping sets the intricate low-end tone (sort of like Saint’s Too Late For Living). Lyric snippet:
I will prevail and fight this war within
Gonna smash the terrorizing ways of its evil sin
I will prevail and fight the war within
The wicked cries and the lies that tempt me
I will defeat the war within me!
I won’t be defeated, I won’t back down
The war machines are ready to fight
The battle cries in the dead of the night
I won’t surrender, I’ll stand my ground
I’m declaring victory to take the demons down
“Decline” is of equal form. More compact at five minutes, it slowly fades in prior to gaining traction, interchanging between stout guitars and bristling bass - production shines in highlighting the two - in also echoing of the mid-tempo but in a terse and pensive package. Song resonates of darker, technical metal pointing to prime Barren Cross. Lyric snippet:
The foolish nation doesn’t make any sense
New Godless nation doesn’t make any sense
This doesn’t make any sense
None of it makes any sense at all
This doesn’t make any sense
God make it make sense!
The world keeps getting worse
Were in decline…
Lone skip button ensues in “Mary”, a metal-ized take on “Mary Had A Little Lamb” nursery rhythm with a lyrical play on words on which ‘Lamb’ is substituted for ‘lamb’. Yes, good in theory but not necessarily in musical concept from how the joining of metal riffs with the recognizable ‘Mary had a little lamb’ melody does not match - is pretentious the word I am looking for? - in coming across somewhat awkward and disjointed, at least to these ears.
Much better is “Give ‘Em Jesus”, a bristling power meets traditional metal slab to see sharply woven riffs and double kick drum aplenty combine to reach for the affected. Weapons Of God exhibits tons of class in exhibiting its first rate musicianship, with a mid-point instrumental run consumed by heated lead guitar and closing seconds ablaze to distorted rhythms. My initial thought is early Jacobs Dream but with lower register vocals.
In a more melodic heading is “Children Of The Light”. One of albums more up-tempo, it begins to feedback fading between the left and right channels ahead of galloping forward to a storm of militant riffs and exultant hooks to set a victorious tone. Instrumental moments feature thrash like guitars that give way to a spiritual warfare infuses bridge to implore the listener how ‘the greater the battle, the greater the victory’. So much going on there is almost a progressive facet here. Lyric snippet:
Sober and not blind
Glory we will find
It’s our destination
To obtain salvation
The gates of hell shall not prevail
Our hearts and souls are not for sale
There’s nothing you can do
Victory we choose
“Feign Dimension” begins to a drum solo ahead of crunching forward to block-ish doom like riffs. Verse sections find gnarled bass ruggedly leading the way until guitars blast in with glutted fury, impelling the way for the churlish refrain to repeat songs title in brusque fashion. Weapons Of God are no nonsense with at its best.
“Knights Of No Tomorrow” is one of this reviewers choice tracks. It begins to neo-classical guitars that give way to the somber, lower-register indications carrying it forward, as compulsion breaks out upon acquiring a refrain to speak of the vanquishing: ‘We’re the knights of no tomorrow, living in a world of sorrow’. A jazzy bass solo that gives way to more neo-classical guitars covers the instrumental final two minutes (once more Barren Cross comes to mind). Lyric snippet:
We’re not blind to his wickedness
Unleash the calling of evilness
He will attack, blood will pour
This is the moment he’s waited for
All for one
We’ll stand and fight
With our God and Savior
The King of Knights!
We’re the knights of no tomorrow…
“Isolate” brings a five-minute semi-progressive package. Want variations? Start with the tempered passages sliding to genteel guitars and calmly done (almost whispered) vocals. Also includes high-strung moments to see salient (almost thrash like) guitars to play a powering role along with vocals of a harsher, lower register form. It deserves equal note the multiple instrumental passages interspersed throughout. Lyric snippet:
Emptiness consumes you
Nothingness takes its toll
So many lies focuses at truth…
Too many lies with too much abuse
Pray! Pray!
Bound by stress again and again
Torn from reality’s downward spin
The last thing left, don’t throw it away
Control yourself, isolate and pray!
Seven minute closer “I Am With You” comes across in the form of a melodic semi-ballad. Sedate is the feel to the instrumental minute and half opening drifting to composed guitars, motive not stepping up until the every bit genteel vocals flow in ahead of heavier guitars taking over the restrained setting. Heart of the Psalmist mirrors as the faith driven way paves for the heartening refrain:
When your burdens are heavy
And you just can’t carry on
I am with you
I am with you
When placed alongside much of albums material, feel is hard rock as opposed to metal.
Bonus material comes in the form of re-recorded versions to “Anger” and “Weapons Of God” off the self-titled debut. Former maintains the trudging riffs and slogging momentum to the original in still touching upon doom-metal, while latter continues as a spiritual warfare themed anthem joining equal parts punchy hooks and understated progressiveness. Added bonus comes in the form of stronger The War Within US production values.
Credit Weapons Of God for the steps and strides it has made in all facets of its game. Songwriting stands out with more notable hooks and greater variances, as found in an added progressive aspect. Added maturity to vocals and spot on as it gets production (guitars and drums are near perfect) round out the package. So many great songs in which to choose:
“War Within”, “Decline”, “Children Of The Light” and “Knights Of No Tomorrow” to name a few. Fans of all forms of traditional and classic power metal (think Barren Cross, Saint, Jacobs Dream, etc) would be well serves to check out Weapons Of God and its sophomore offering The War Within US.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Deep Wordless Knowledge” (3:26), “War Within” (7:57), “Decline” (5:16), “Mary” (3:28), “Give ‘Em Jesus” (5:20), “Children Of The Light” (6:11), “Feign Dimension” (5:38), “Knights Of No Tomorrow” (5:19), “Isolate” (5:30), “I Am With You” (6:44), “Anger” (5:27), “Weapons Of God” (6:00)
Musicians
Steve McGowan - Guitars & Vocals
Leon Black - Guitar & Vocals
Ed Girard - Bass
Greg Alan - Drums
