Arrogance: The Fall

Valor have been active for longer than one might think (since 2002 as a matter of fact). They have a moniker tailor-made for a power metal act, and with it comes a certain expectation of grandeur and nobility. With previous album The Yonder Answer, these characteristics were definitely on show, albeit slightly more subdued than the more flamboyant power metal artists, but Valor still leave me craving that glorious melodic explosion that so permeates similar bands. Newest effort Arrogance: The Fall takes an unfortunate backward step; instead of pushing the envelope of their sound further – it falls further into stagnation. This is their third studio album overall, their second on Pitch Black Records, but it has the atmosphere of a band on their 30th.

The major glaring issue with Arrogance… is the tempo. I’m not saying power metal can’t work at slower tempos (see: 70% of Hammerfall’s career), but forty minutes of solid mid-tempo rocking with so little variation can only hold interest for so long. I’m not kidding, from the opening of “Arrogant Fall”, right through to the closing of “No Angel’s Face”, the speed never climbs above head-nodding pace. Whilst I don’t doubt the Greek’s songwriting capabilities, I find my attention wandering barely halfway through the album. In fact, I find it difficult to analyze particular tracks due to them all blending into one indistinguishable lump of metal. All songs are between three-and-a-half and five minutes, and despite there being a perfectly reasonable nine tracks, it feels like far more.

On the positive side, the production quality is satisfyingly wholesome and chunky. Vaggelis’ vocals are up front, smooth, silky and proud – especially effective when beautifully harmonized. The more interesting parts of this LP are when the keyboards take the helm. Thanasis’ performance behind the keys is never flashy, but always effective and used just at the right time. Whether, it’s beefing up the menacing riffs of “Pandora’s Gift”, or showing off a little at the start of “The Crown Of Nevermore”, that extra dimension saves this album from falling into total mediocrity. The other band members display their talents well enough, but few things stand out due to the overall unremarkable feeling this record exudes, save for a few impressive guitar solos (“In Another Time”).

The album art also reflects the music through its lack of vibrancy. When compared to the colourful splendour of the previous album, it pales. Although the simplistic verse-chorus structure of the songs should make them accessible and memorable, it’s hard to distinguish verses from choruses because of the monotone atmosphere. Valor definitely have promise within their excellent timbre, but to live up to their namesake, a dose of youthful energy is much required. Arrogance: The Fall is not inherently bad, but it’s dangerously close to stagnation for its entirety…even a ballad would’ve helped!

Originally written for www.metal-observer.com