My first impression with this was, as one record store keeper said, "shitty made rock". But after many praising reviews, I decided to give it a try. There was I, with phones on my ears, thinking what the hell was so bad on this? After a long good listening, I couldn't find anything bad on this one.
The singer is kind of weird (that might be the reason for me to have such wrong first impression!), but knowing he's used so sing musicals on so on, it's pretty obvious to him sound a bit "weird". He's not a typical metal singer at all, but that's good for a change. If you're into melodic power metal, viking metal or any kind of metal at all, you should try this. The sound on this one is amazing. Stubbly guitar sound with killer riffs of Stefan Weinerhall blasted me to the wreckage of Wasa ship... and I don't want to come back!
I live in a good faith to see even better debut someday. It may take a long time.
Rating: 9½ (out of 10)Reviewed by Mikki
08/12/2001
Mikki played me Falconer on some beer-nights and it sounded cool enough, so I bought it 2nd hand when I saw it. Part of the band used to be in Mithotyn before getting this band started.
This has similar Nordic feel that Mithotyn. Basically this is more heavy metal with some power metal influences and mandatory folkish acoustic bits. Some great riffs, some not quite great ones too, but never too bad. But, there is not enough variety in my opinion.
Vocalist is a plus point in my ears. Mathias Blad is his name and he has performed in musicals. He sings extremely well with normal voice sometimes going a bit higher. This is the thing that makes Falconer a bit different. Graphics and lyrics just make feeling of old stronger. By old I mean times when people lived in small villages and kings in castles, when men were metal and boats were made of wood and Christianity was never heard of. What an utopia.
The Andy La Rocque production is heavy and very metal. Guitars sound tight and meaty while rhythm section makes it even more heavy. Nothing to do with that trebly, light power metal sound heard too much nowadays.
Falconer have put out a good debut album. This is no classic, but still different enough in all metal mass. I guess this should suit for both power and heavy metallers out there.
Rating: 7 (out of 10) ratings explained
Reviewed by Lane
01/16/2003 23:11
