Failing in Triumph

I decided to dig deeper into Battlesword's back catalogue courtesy of the pipe dream that they released good material at some point in their career. Sadly, Failing in Triumph is far from a masterpiece, but it is interesting that the thirteen year gap between this and Banners of Destruction elicited very little change in Battlesword's core sound. This is still rather blatant Amon Amarth worship, steady, stolid mid-paced melodic death metal with grandiose, sweeping minutiae outfitting the material with just a bit more urgency and lasting power. In regards to Amon Amarth, this feels like a poverty version of The Crusher, with similar production values and the occasional perk-up in speed that sets it apart slightly from its forebears.

Needless noodling and pretentious indulgence are eschewed in favor of brutal, muscular rhythms that feel like more style than substance. Still, isolated sections of Failing in Triumph have some oomph and virility, like the majority of "Baptized in Fire," marred only by some straight-up bum notes during one of the tremolo intervals. "Battlesword" also displays some concrete-cracking zest, inter alia machinegun double bass and brooding chords. But again, there are moments where the leads sound like they are coming out of tune, and these don't sound like they were done intentionally. The band alternates between chugging mid-paced melodeath set in front of double bass that feels far too busy for the lurching nature of the riffs, and drawn out, powerchords dictating Patrick Heinrichs' voluminous, gut-wrenching growls. Heinrichs is far superior to any of his successors, so this is one facet wherein Failing in Triumph is superior to Banners of Destruction.

The caustic, raw tremolos are the best singular facet of the album, twisting around the listener in a serpentine manner while the rhythm cranks out ugly, obtuse punishment. "This Silent Night" displays most of what is both good and bad on the record, containing said tremolos and some nifty, emotive leads stretching over the ragged remainder. But again with the bum notes! Honestly, it feels like the album was rushed, as there are many sections on here that feel like they required more than one sloppy take. Some songs deliver a solid knuckle sandwich of groaning, languid melodic death with simmering aggression like "Fatal Dreaming." The crunching, ascending chords build the tension via powerful ebbs and flows, dictating the mood much more affably than most of the remainder.

Failing in Triumph feels like it could have been something more than what we got. The amateurish, sloppy nature of some of the lead work makes me question the capacity of the guitarists. Some sections feel every bit as imposing and monolithic as Amon Amarth at their mid-paced best, but much of the album blurs together and sections feel unfit for one another in context. It's a hair above average, but nothing more. I would say check this one out before Banners of Destruction, if only because this album's high points are much better, but you wouldn't be missing out on much by skipping Battlesword altogether.