RAMzine 27 | Avatar, Festival Flashbacks, Sister Shotgun

GOBLINS BLADE
OF ANGELS AND SNAKES
German metal band Goblins Blade
have released their first full-length
album Of Angels and Snakes through
Massacre Records. The album comes
following the success of the independently
released EP Awakening
back in May 2019. The German fivepiece,
formed back in 2018, take their
name from a song by the American
thrash group Heathen.
The band delivers an old school
heavy metal sound mixed with a
more traditional power metal sound.
With Florian Reimann’s vocals that
sound akin to what Bruce Dickinson
belts out combined with heavy riffs,
Goblins Blade come out of the blocks
with archetypal power metal. Unlike
some power metal groups, Goblins
Blade don’t rely solely on speed as a
means of carrying their songs; Instead
constructing engaging and powerful
riffs expertly played by guitarists Jörg
M. Knittel and Claudio Enzler. This is
further backed up with Roberto Palacios’
basslines and the drumming of
Claudio Sisto completing the outfit and
building the solid base upon which
Reimann’s vocals can take flight. This
slower style does not hinder Goblins
Blade at all, as the more aggressive,
punchier style more than holds its
own.
The use of guitars is highlighted in the
brilliant solos on display throughout
the album, especially in the opening
track of the album ‘Snakes from
Above’ and again on the longest track
of the record ‘When the Night Follows
the Day’. On both tracks well-executed
guitar solos help carry the
song and pin them up as aggressive
fist-pumping anthems. In the latter of
those songs, the drumming of Sisto is
particularly impactful indicating his
work as core to the sound of Goblins
Blade. The album is closed out well by
‘Call for Unity’ for its strong sound and
slow fade into silence to bookend the
album.
Of Angels and Snakes is an impressive
debut album and is a decent foray into
the slightly more aggressive side of
power metal. Whilst not being too explorative
it adds an entry to the genre
worthy of recognition and a listen to.
Review by Alex Chapman
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