III

As a title like “In the Days of Epic Metal” would indicate, the scope of Dexter Ward’s third full-length III is considerably broader than the two albums before it. You’ve got your obligatory theatrical intros as that track in question makes the most of its Maiden-isms while “Soldiers of Light” has a buildup that reminds me of Metal Church’s “Badlands.” The more straightforward power metal tracks reflect this influence further with emphasis on flashy guitar harmonies and a consistently bright, uplifting tone.

Fortunately, the band backs up that epic attitude with their most energetic musicianship to date. The polished production job and more assertive vocals are right in line with 2016’s Rendezvous with Destiny, but tracks like the opening “Return of the Blades” and “Conan the Barbarian” reach back to 2011’s Neon Lights with their speedy tempos and high-octane gusto. “The Eyes of Merlin” and “The Dragon of the Mist” round things out nicely as the extra cheese is balanced out by hefty mid-tempo riff sets.

But the album’s most climactic wildcard comes as “The Demonslayer” closes things out. Its noticeably slower pacing doesn’t quite hit doom levels, but its mood isn’t too far off thanks to its ominous guitar work and sharper vocals. Dexter Ward seems to have prominent Helstar influence by default, but the Nosferatu emulations are especially blatant here. It makes me wonder about the possibility of exploring this style further in the future…

With Dexter Ward improving their epic metal formula with each album, it’s nice to see their third stand out as their best thus far. III is not only the band’s most balanced album, effectively reconciling the speed and polish of their first two efforts, but also puts in a more epic scale that allows it to stand out even further. It may not consist of the most original components out there, but its presentation is strong enough to endear itself to classic metal fans.

Highlights:
“In the Days of Epic Metal”
“The Eyes of Merlin”
“The Dragon of the Mist”
“The Demonslayer”

Originally published at http://indymetalvault.com