By Light of Emerald Gods

Surprise debut from a band out of nowhere who are definitely in the vein of other modern Trad Metal bands like Visigoth, Eternal Champion or Gatekeeper, all in the style of classic Manilla Road, Jag Panzer, or Manowar. There's a clear line of descent. The riffs are really good here, wielding a lot of classic hooks that keep the songs cooking along even when they are maybe a bit repetitive. Singer Avery Berg is a bit odd, as he seems to be consistently singing a step below where his voice would resonate, so he comes across as more restrained than I would like. Still, I found this album entertaining all the way through, and this is a band to watch.