Dying Victims Productions - 2024
9/10
Ah, two of my favorite things in one place; heavy metal, and the Balkans. The Slovenian outfit Challenger are not only a nostalgic act jumping on the traditional metal revival train, but they throw in some nifty curveballs, which always enhances the experience. Until this year, they had only an EP to their name since formation nearly a decade ago. Thus, it becomes even more impressive that their debut full-length Force Of Nature lands in such a neat way so quickly.
At first glance, you'll simply find a decently polished dose of metal on the speed-oriented side of things that avoids any power metal frills but still opts for advanced layering. The placement of the lead guitars pairs beautifully with popping bass rhythms, holding the same momentum as the faster chugs, all tied together with swift solos. Melody is the name of the game in all departments, with a strong ear for vocal clarity that hints at an epic delivery method without really embracing it too much. The finished product makes for a throwback disc in the NWOBHM vein under a cleaner scope and an identity that feels unique.
But even with this beefy foundation, Challenger manages to sneak in a few other tricks. The most obvious would be the fact that it utilizes harsh vocals when you'd least expect it, a very strange tactic for this style. Yet, it flows very nicely, showcased wonderfully in the likes of "Under The Skin," with the rumbling bass passages transitioning the tune into a darker, doomier direction. To the opposing end, "Exhausted Earth" utilizes acoustic guitars and soft projection to invoke an emotional opposite that matches the song's subject matter. The title track gives a similar aura but projects its emotion through steady stomps under the same clarity rather than going for the softer twist.
Much of the magic in Force Of Nature also simply lies in the drawn out tunes that cool things down in exchange for the aforementioned intricate construction. "Victims Of War" coming in at nearly seven minutes is one of my favorites, working as a slow burn with a long intro that leads to some fantastic chops. Hell, the drum eruptions and isolated vocal wails alone on this track are impressive, which is a nice constant on the whole album. "Recurrent Universe" takes a more accessible step as an instrumental that sticks to power-stance riffs as its main driver, adding some of the strongest drum patterns on the whole album.
It doesn't take much for traditional metal acts to sell me, so long as it has just the littlest bit of uniqueness (and we all know a decent number of them do not). Challenger not only accept the challenge (haha), they exceed the expectation and crank out something memorable and exceptional. For how early in the game they are, I'm not only impressed, but eager to see what the future will hold. Fans of anything around the non-extreme sides of metal should find something worth walking away with here.
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