We are fans first and foremost and we want to bring the local music to everyone we can and let everyone see the best local bands around LOCAL is where it starts....

Local Overload 3 - 24 - 22

We are fans first and foremost and all we wanna do is bring the local music to everyone we can so everyone can hear what we see at shows.... LOCAL is where it starts....

Local Overload 3 - 31 - 22 Problem With Polly Show

We are fans first and foremost our job is to get the music into as many ears as we can because everyone starts small and we all need help LOCAL is where it starts....

Local Overload 4 - 7-22 Hoosier Drum Channel Show

We are fans first and foremost and we are just trying to get the music we hear into the ears of everyone we can because nothing is better than a live show LOCAL is where it starts....

Local Overload 4 - 14 - 22

We are fans first and foremost and are just trying to get the music we see live to everyone we can because LOCAL is where it starts.....

Local Overload 4 - 21 - 22

We are fans first and foremost and we are just wanting to get the music we see and hear into the ears of everyone because LOCAL is where it starts......

Local Overload 4 - 28 - 22 Jackson Snelling Show

We are fans first and foremost and we are just trying to get the music to everyone we can thats what we do LOCAL is where it starts....

Local Overload 5 -4-22

We are fans first and foremost and we are just trying to get the music into the ears as mant people who love music as we can so go to a show hit a like button and follow a band or two LOCAL is where it starts....

Local Overload 5 - 12 - 22

We are fans first and foremost and we just wanna get as many people as possible listening to the music we see and hear nothing better than a live show and LOCAL is where it starts....

Local Overload 5 - 18 - 22

We are fans first and foremost and we are just trying to get the music into the ears as many people as we can.  Nothing Better than live music and nothing beats a local show LOCAL  is where it starts....

Local Overload 5 - 26 - 22 Tyler Wayne Morris Show

Today we’re looking at the new release from US power metallers Immortal Guardian entitled Unite And Conquer. I’ll begin with the album’s first track, “Ozona.” This one is very representative of Immortal Guardian’s approach generally, and would be at home on any of their other releases, as it displays what the band does so well.  The flurry of melded guitar and keys at the beginning is classic Gabriel Guardian! There are some good riffs to be found here, albeit not super hooky. The versing is kinda so-so, to be honest, but when the chorus hits you there’s some great syncopation and unity of sound and direction. And the time-change accompanying Zima’s plaintive “whoa-oahs” at the end is just icing on the cake – really drawing the listener in to the magic of this song. Like so many of their tracks, I can find imperfections when I break them down into their components, but the sum of the performance is typically greater than the parts.
 
Jumping ahead to song three in the listing we find the energetic yet evocative “Roots Run Deep.” This one features guest vocals from the mighty Ralf Scheepers of Primal Fear.  I love Scheepers as a singer, and think his is a nice contribution, but honestly Zima’s voice is the star here. The baritone intro he gives at the beginning is absolute gold – you won’t hear many genuinely metal songs that include that brand of vocal delivery, much less in a way that fits so seamlessly with the feel of this song.  Uptempo with great kitwork by drummer Justin Piedimonte, I really can’t get enough of this one!
 
Further in we find “Lost In The Darkness,” another track with guest vox, this time from the amazing Vicky Psarakis, formerly of The Agonist. Much like in the previously discussed song, Psarakis’ assist is solid but serves best as a foil to launch Zima’s own stellar crooning. I just love the trade off lead vocals, with each singer trying to out do the other. And Guardian’s solo is fire – the perfect length and tone.
 
My final song to highlight is “Divided We Fall”, and if I had to choose one track on the album it would likely be this. The thing I most love about “Divided” is that, in a number of respects, the band kinda keeps it right on the edge musically. The bridge in particular is a very haphazard sonic skittering where I feel like the band is at any point about to take the song off the rails… but somehow they pull it off and transition into that moderate paced but beautiful verse. Zima really pushed himself to his limits on this one to great effect exuding killer voice control.
 
Those are my favs, but the other six tracks each have something to offer as well. 
 
I’ll admit I’ve not given Carlos Zima his proper due as a singer, initially in my own mind lumping him in with a subgroup of singers having surface vocal similarities. But Zima is a hell of a singer, and he definitely proves it on this album with some of his best performances to date. We haven’t touched on “Un Dia A La Vez,” a song where he opens himself to some ranges he hasn’t on any previous Immortal Guardian track, so very beautiful and in some parts almost feminine in his delivery. And the album finale “Rise Of The Phoenix” has him able to convey emotional subtleties before exploding into a scream machine.
 
Gabriel Guardian is truly remarkable in his approach utilizing both the guitars and keys as true twin lead instruments. Guardian has the keys in the foreground bringing loud, tight notes and driving that lead melody. There’s a lot of work Guardian puts into building these compositions such that the instruments complement and don’t clash. 
 
I’m giving Unite And Conquer a 8 ½ out of ten rating.  It’s absolutely worth your time to check out. Support Immortal Guardian by purchasing Unite And Conquer from M-Theory Audio.

The Great Metal Debate

Album Review - Unite And Conquer (Immortal Guardian)

Podcast where Brian and Gomthog engage in a lively debate of heavy metal music as well as interviewing artists and talking to fans.  Occasional explicit language.

Album Review - Unite And Conquer (Immortal Guardian)

The Great Metal Debate

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