I don’t own a sword. Yet. But if I did, certainly I can see myself wanting to be inundated with music that would make me want to take up said blade and dramatically swing it above my head. In my backyard. I don’t need those government motherfuckers over here wondering if I’m about to attack a Tesla.

That said, “By Light of Emerald Gods” is the first long player by Colorado-based classic heavy metal force Chamber Mage, and does this ever foot the bill for music I’d want to hear if I had to participate in a trial by combat. Over eight tracks and about a half hour, the band—vocalist Avery Berg, guitarists Devan Fechner and Jaden Knowles, bassist Ted Jedlicki, drummer Daniel Nevin—packs riffs, swords clanging, and driving vocals over a collection that easily would have landed in 1984. If you’ve got a hankering for something like Manilla Road, Visigoth, or Cirith Ungol, then you’ll be right at home on this record that jettisons me back to my formative metal years and fills me with unbridled power. You can use something like that every now and again.

“In Battle” starts with the sounds of swords clashing! What better way to open a metal record? Guitars heat up as the pace gallops, Berg’s commanding vocals adding energy but never overpowering. Boisterous “woah-oh-oh” calls get your energy channeled, and the final battle adding clanging that leaves everything in dust. “Blades on the Rampart” is daring, gritty singing pushing, a smashing chorus taking you down with force. Berg sings of the ills of war as guitars command, ripping back into soaring vocals and vintage fire that ends this thing in fire. “Bishop’s Vengeance” has guitars chugging as the riffs flex, deeper singing landing meatier punches before the soloing rips. The electricity jolts through your veins as the bass thickens, the chorus swings back for one more shot, and smoke enshrouds. “Beyond the Lighthouse” brings slicing guitars and a driving pace, Berg digging deep into his guts vocally, the pace growing more muscular. Guitars sweep as the tempo bristles, the vocals spreading their wings before the melodies go clean and slip away.

“To Spires Deep and Caverns High” punches immediately, the playing going faster, the singing blasting as the drumming comes unglued. The pulsating quakes the earth as fluid soloing ignites, group calls make your heart race, and a raging, gutting end goes for your ribcage. “The Length of the Chain” opens with guitars snaking through an aggressive rhythm section, the singing toughening, and a melodic fury arriving with relentless energy. Berg’s words speak of defying a temptress, the simple chorus feeling urgent and impactful, the pace surging before a soaring end. “The Emerald Tower Revealed” has guitars churning and energetic singing, the catchiness impossible to shake as the pace stomps before coming ablaze. The chorus rouses with power as the guitars collect their strength and charge, the leads exploring the outer realms before a dusty end. Closer “The Silver City Fell” runs 10:42, and it is a proper concluding epic, with emotional singing, glazing strings, and a calculated pace unfurling to tell the tale. Guitars fire up as the playing grows more sinister, going on a melodic run that still has its blades stuck deep within you. The tempo and danger both spike, the playing clashing like the swords at the opener, Berg calling, “The tower that would never fall is lying broken after all,” leading to a furious, dramatic finish that leaves you battered.

Chamber Mage’s plight to continue the storied honor of classic metal bursts at the seams on “By Light of the Emerald Gods.” This is a steady debut record, one that will resonate with the old guard fans who have been dining in these halls for decades now as well as the newer listeners who found their way back through other newer bands of this ilk. This is an album that helps you get lost in your imagination as great battles, large feast halls, and vengeful fires surge, leaving you exhausted yet exhilarated by what you just experienced. 

For more on the band, go here: https://chambermage.bandcamp.com/

To buy the album, go here: https://namelessgraverecords.com/collections/nameless-grave-records-releases

For more on the label, go here: https://namelessgraverecords.com/