...and the Rift of the Pan-Dimensional Undergods

If you're a fan of the epic heavy metal or power metal genres, chances are you're aware that the subject matter often deals with fantasy, sci-fi, or mythology; to put it a bit more succinctly, these styles tend to focus on subjects generally regarded as being "nerdy." The works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Michael Moorcock, and H.P. Lovecraft are some of the most common examples. Some bands/albums delve deeper into these subjects than others; there are bands that only mention such subjects occasionally, and then on the opposite side of the spectrum you have bands like Colossus, who are so entrenched in classic video games, movies, and books that it's hard to imagine the members in any light but that of the nerd's nerd, someone who partakes so constantly and ubiquitously of these media that it must be rare their thoughts drift to anything else. This may be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your own personal interests, but for me this is pretty unambiguously a positive, something that's a treat to hear, especially when dealing with franchises not often covered by other metal bands.

For example, take the song "Salamandastron." Fans of the late Brian Jacques' Redwall series will likely recognize this title as belonging to the fifth book in the series, one of the more memorable and well-loved entries in the saga. I've listened to a lot of heavy/power metal, and I've not heard another song about Redwall in any of it, so this is certainly a pleasant, long overdue surprise. The album opener, "Limit Break," covers the popular video game series Final Fantasy, which to my knowledge is similarly underrepresented as a lyrical theme in metal. The title pretty obviously refers to the occasional, more powerful attack your characters will launch in some of the titles, and the end of the song even includes a sample of Kefka's infamous evil laugh from Final Fantasy VI. Other subjects include "Bubba Zanetti," one of the villains from the Mad Max franchise, and Willow, a reference to the cult classic movie from the late 80s. Every song seems to deal with a different example of a classic book, game, or movie, making it an excellent grab bag that should cater to any relatively nerdy individual with at least one or two tracks.

Musically, what we have is a galloping, midpaced brand of epic heavy metal, evoking groups like Slough Feg, Borrowed Time, and Tales of Medusa. Vocalist Sean Buchanan's delivery is somewhat atypical for the style, but in no way unenjoyable or uninteresting. His voice has a pretty raw, amateurish sound to it, but in a way that's very charming and very enthusiastic, in the spirit of many NWOBHM and NWOBHM revival bands like Angel Witch, Evil Survives, and Iron Dogs. The mix is also very strong, providing a relatively clear, polished sound without neutering the guitar tone or putting the vocals too far into or out of the spotlight. The guitarists are also clearly very talented, managing to throw out riff after riff that's not only catchy and memorable, but often a bit more complex and unconventional than your standard heavy metal fare, making the music seem both accessible and immediate while still presenting enough substance and nuance for the listener to find new things upon multiple listens, in this way reminding me of DiAnno-era Iron Maiden (and there's clearly some direct stylistic influence from them, too). The solos are also quite impressive, sometimes showing off some pretty intricate melodies, but without ever overstaying their welcome or feeling unnecessarily flashy or technical. Overall, I'd recommend this to any fan of early Maiden, Slough Feg, or really NWOBHM/heavy metal in general. There's not a single weak track here, and you'll find yourself headbanging and singing along more often than not with Colossus's debut effort, ...and the Rift of the Pan-Dimensional Undergods.