SKALLAGRIM: INTO THE BREACH

From their symphonic first period, Glass Hammer has added some new ideas in their last releases, but this time they have gone even further exploring the classic hard rock field and space music which made it difficult to think that you are listening to the same band. After a short piano intro, we have the heavy sound of the guitars and a strait forward style with some spacey keys. "Sellssword" continues in the same atmosphere with a nice bass break. For the first time, the keys are upfront but the guitar won't let this for long. "Steel" calm things down and Fred Schendel is displaying all his tools with a fast keyboard part. There is another impressive dark instrumental passage with Steve Babb's bass work in a Pink Floyd first-period atmosphere. This song is the most progressive of the album with many twists and turns. And then the song "A Spell Upon His Mind" is in a completely different style of music with his Tangerine Dream electronica style. The spacey atmosphere continues with the instrumental "Moon Pool" showing another face of Glass Hammer that explores some jazzy and repetitive drums/bass beat. "The Dark" short instrumental brings back some heavy sound with some nice keyboards lines. "The Ogre of Archon" displays some hard rock with a grunge influence. "The Forlorn Hope" and The Writing on the Wall" we can hear influences from Led Zep and Rush at both beginnings of those songs. I am more satisfied with this new album than those they released 10 years ago after "If". Is it because it's heavier and darker? The songs simply connect with me more than those albums.