REVIEW: Warlock AD - Book II: The Valley of Vâgené

Introducing Warlock A.D’s second debut album, ‘Book II: The Valley of Vâgené’ the sequel to the much-loved and well received ‘Book I: The Resurrection’, featuring their well-known hits such as ‘Skyrimming’, ‘Gerlat of Labia’ and ‘The Resurrection’. This is their second full length album where you will be transported into a new story and journey.

Warlock A.D. have begun their new quest in ‘Book II: The Valley of Vâgené’  where the legend continues. Storywise, you're launched into their immersive world from the very beginning on tracks 'A Strange New World (That is not My Own)' and 'The Valley of Vâgené', where you find out that Whiteacre The Nomad has been separated from his brothers following an intense battle with Bol-Saix the Decimator. He finds himself powerless and stranded in a strange new world, the land of Brittanni. He requires the help of Quinn Eilianther the Elven Price, Horatus the Mushroom Wizard and Ahriman Cullblade the Shadow Assassin to ensure their successful getaway to The Valley of Vâgené. The fate of Brittanni rests in these heroes' hands. This makes a smooth transition from the album's start, setting the scene to how they further on their quest.

As we continue through the album, 'Nanum Imperium' has deeper growls and symphonic riffs changing it up giving the album a taste of a variety of genres. 'The Golden Showers of Prestønia' begins slower than the other songs, making it the (relative) ballad of the album, featuring elements of female voices - and after listening to this I wouldn’t be recommending drinking the water from Preston…

Leading straight into 'By the Path of the Exiled', the band bring us back into their journey through the mountains and paths to then be approached by Rothgar Warsong. This song is very merry, with the flutes in the back transporting you into a tavern where you could be drinking mead, doing some dad dancing, or brawling. After finishing all the mead we're back into a battle song called 'As One, We Stand!' which makes you feel like Whiteacre The Nomad is recruiting you onto the journey.

'Ancient Dragon of Storms Flüffir Mighty Guardian of Valley (Techno Wyrmhole)' adds a different feel to the album, as it sounds like there is a lot more going on behind with the synth and the levels of pitch used throughout, making it very video game-like. It feels like something you would hear as a backing track for a retro game while trying to beat the final boss in the final level - however in 'The Sacred Spears of Brittanni' you hear about how you are going to slay this dragon, bringing it back to its fast-paced journey with plenty of tasty growls and melodic vocals.

'Stormbreather' begins with a retro beginning that is just like playing on a Nintendo 64, whilst the operatic vocals make you feel as if you're inside a storm, which adds to all the elements of the rain, wind, lightning and thunder thorughout. Those, combined with the growls later on, lead to a veritable eruption of a track. ‘The Sword of Cühm’ has a fantastic transition that adds a further twist to this fantasy tale, making us sit on the edge of our seats, smoothly bringing us into the final track of the album that is ‘The Rising Flames of the Eternal Golden Empire Rise’ and made us wonder what is going to happen next.

The album rocks and rolls with the fun you could expect of a band who roll for their songs live on stage, and has plenty of fun storytelling to keep you hooked if the music won't do that for you. Hopefully we will get to see more very soon from Warlock A.D and understand how they can continue to further push their story as a fantasy band.

'Book II: The Valley of Vâgené' is released on September 27th via Rockshot Records.

Words: Ciara Hicks-Evans Photos: Warlock AD