A Call to Arms

“Chevalier” is the French word for “knight”, but one gets the feeling that for the Finnish quintet it also means “night”. As the glorious new cover art on this Gates of Hell reissue suggests, this is not just about swords and battles – something more sinister finds itself dragged back from days of yore. Aside from the striking imagery, this updates the production of the originally independent release, casting a pinprick of light down into the murky sounds of Chevalier’s epic speed metal and illuminating the grand space in which they play. Rest assured, however, that even with the remaster, the listener feels like peering through stygian darkness at a band playing close to the mouth of hell. For an ‘80s style typically without much atmosphere, A Call to Arms manages to capture a very special ambience indeed.

Stylistically, one can throw around names like Armory, ADX, and compatriots Legionnaire, all of whom have produced gripping speed metal albums in recent years, yet the iciness of Chevalier’s duel guitar attack might also be said to draw from black metal, while the vocals of Emma Grönqvist are comparable to those of Jill Janus on Huntress’s best songs. Then again, it’s just as apt to say that listening to A Call to Arms feels like the Finns are forming the same kind of missing link as Mercyful Fate, just without aping that classic sound at all. What’s clear is that the musicianship soars and casts chills over all six of the songs on this debut EP: riffs pile up like the skulls of forgotten dead and rhythms hammer down to hint at what killed them, while melodies make the process unforgettable.

Each song is crafted with care and some measure of nuance, though the basic style of racing riffs and tense transitions needs not be changed across them all. Startling imagery arises from the clanging opening of ‘The Sorcerer’ and brief narrative introductions depict a darker image of the horseman on the band-titled track. Surely the most memorable moment comes at the close of ‘Ride for Revenge’: just as the song appears to be over, Grönqvist hangs onto the ending note of the title and the band suddenly surge back in, smashing out a flaming solo before finally falling silent. Some may regret that the length falls slightly short of a true LP, but the abridged playing time leaves this debut electric, just as it was on its original release in early 2017. Chevalier are speed metal’s hottest property right now.


Originally written for Metalgion #4 - www.metalegion.com