Magnetar “There Will Be No Peace in My Valley”

There Will Be No Peace in My Valley will be released September 27th on Vendetta Records

England’s Magnetar deliver a unique mixture of classic heavy metal, combined with the heaviness and aggression of extreme metal. Adding growls and brutality, along with melodic moments that pay homage to the roots of heavy metal, while also incorporating the hostility and anger that was forged from the groundwork of extreme metal. Taking inspiration from the classic thrash acts like Slayer and Infernal Majesty, and icons like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. The band are ready to show what they can do with the release of their debut album There Will Be No Peace in My Valley. Have they payed homage to the legendary acts and create a sound that encapsulates their love of the genres?

With a reverb-heavy opening drum build, the song “SCUM” kicks off the album with a high-intensity, first wave of black metal sound. In the vein of early records from acts like Bathory or Venom. Dan Walmsley’s guitars ring out throughout the opening verses section, channeling the classic thrash guitar tone of the 1980’s. Nick Wallwork’s gritty, gravelly snarling channels that Cronos/Abbath vocal delivery as the driving drums of Rob Harris keep time and amp up the track. A heavy riff that channels the thrash sound of the 80’s, but with hints of black metal in the playing at some parts. The blast beats, into the guitar solo, is a nice transition and keeps the high octane energy. I like the hybrid of black metal over a classic thrash solo. Then, the transition into a New Wave of British Heavy Metal riff on the bridge was a nice touch. The return to black metal after the bridge just hit like a brick wall. With the modern production, it sounds so good as the song comes to a close. Distorted, black metal riffage opens the next track “The Shadow Mountains”. Harris’ drums lead the call-to-arms attitude, as the song kicks into gear when Wallwork’s vocals join in. With a very Immortal sounding guitar riff, the song is a pit-starter. I was banging my head along with every snare strike as the song slows down in-between verses. Clean guitars come in out of nowhere near the halfway mark. An addition of synth effects add an otherworldly, ethereal tone to them, before the drums come roaring back in to help build a dark undertone. Another great guitar solo by Walmsley embodies the shred-tacular attitude of the roots of heavy metal. While also adding to the pulse and intensity of the track as it kicks into gear on the drums after the solo. Drums blast away near the close, as tremolo guitars and drum fills soar at an unrelenting speed. “To Render The Soul” opens with synth-heavy effects, as wailing guitars and simple drums lead into a chugging, palm-muted riff. Guitars channel that hybrid of heavy & black metal with the guitar tone and play style. Almost creating a groove at some points before the drums kill the groove and start blasting. I like the New Wave of British Heavy Metal riff at the halfway mark, definitely giving off Iron Maiden vibes. The song intensifies around the three quarters mark as it goes full on thrash, with Harris destroying his kit with every drum hit and Walmsley flying and wailing on guitar.

On the title track, a harmonious, reverb heavy guitar opens the track with a simple but driving drums. Guitars take front and center in the song, and the mix as well. Almost burying the double bass at some points. Wallwork’s vocals are more phlegmy in his snarls, before Walmsley delivers clean vocals right after. Creating an awesome contrast and fitting the energy and motif of the song. The riff and drums create that groove and bounce feeling like the previous track. The song begins to slow down and go back to the same opening guitar vibe. Before the guitars begin to play an 80’s heavy metal style riff you’d hear on a Quiet Riot record, but with some double bass adding some extra heft. Then, black metal guitars and drums come crashing in, along with the snarling vocals of Wallwork. “A Deluge of Pious Primitives” opens with ringing distorted guitars and cymbal strikes into a nice drum fill. Aggressive drums grab the song by the reigns and we are off. A thrash-heavy riff matches the heavy and fast drumming. Another song that I can picture a lot of people headbanging along to the riff, before the chorus slows the vibes down to a more black metal midtempo pacing. With Wallwork’s “cry to the sky” vocals, before snare-driving drums and atmospheric electric guitars and some synths behind him help build the song. The halfway mark of the song shows a swaying, orchestral style arrangement effect, before the drums return to just straight blasting and wailing guitars in the background. A switch-up around the four minute mark begins to happen. You begin to hear more strings, then just acoustic guitar and synths are played. Beautiful, clean acoustic guitar tone, before the song returns to a distortion wall of aggressive guitars for the remainder of the song. Acoustic guitar opens “Of Ulm”. Electric guitars and drum fills follow it, as another New Wave of British Heavy Metal-style riff follows the wailing guitars. Then, the song transforms again back into the black metal sound the band has delivered so far on the album. With the acoustic guitar passage returning again near the closing moments of the song. The album closer, “Adorned in Flame”, is a ten-minute closing piece that encapsulates everything the band has done this far. Aggressive, driving and commanding drumming. Black metal guitars along with impressive, but short guitar solos. Along with vocals that deliver that snarl and attitude that Wallwork delivers perfectly.

Overall, Magnetar delivered a strong debut album. The band does pay a good homage to the legacy of heavy metal, while also adding their take on extreme metal into that sound. I will admit there were some parts they did really well in the instrumentation and truly nailed the message they were going through. I will also point out that I think the band had some predictability or formulaic. There are bands, like Bewitcher for example, that are similar to Magnetar in that they are a band trying to combine these two genres really well and both bands took time to truly perfect their sound. I think Magnetar is on the right track with this debut album, and I would be curious to see where they go with album number two.

SCORE: 4 / 5

You can check out the album on the band's Bandcamp page HERE.