siLLy puPPy A metal supergroup of sorts, ASHES OF ARES hosts three bonafide talents in the world of US power metal with not one but two former Iced Earth members, namely lead vocalist Matt Barlow who has also gigged with Cauldron, Pyramaze and We Are Sentinels along with guitarist Freddie Vidales also of Iced Earth and Infusion fame. Add to this stellar duo the percussive talents of ex-Nevermore drummer Van Williams and ASHES OF ARES immediately caught the attention of the power metal hungry fanbase with its eponymously titled debut which cemented the band as a major tour de force in the 21st century US power metal scene and luckily these guys have gelled enough to keep up their excellence to last an entire decade!

EMPERORS AND FOOLS is the band’s third release and pretty much continues the US power metal ecstasy as any true fan of the genre would expect. While nothing new under the sun, ASHES OF ARES delivers a competent slice of modern US power metal in the classic Iced Earth demeanor with all those recognizable attributes heard in virtually any Iced Earth album with Barlow at the helm. Is that good or bad? Well like all these things, that is in the eye of the beholder. Musically EMPERORS AND FOOLS delivers all the US power metal goods without flinching however if anyone is expecting any sort of renaissance in this energetic metal style, well maybe you need to look elsewhere. This is pretty much US power metal, Iced Earth style by the numbers but when things are this excellently executed you can’t really go wrong!

This album features 12 tracks with a couple cameos. Sacred Reich guitarist Wiley Arnett and Charlie Mark (no friggin idea who this is) deliver guest solos on “The Iron Throne” while ex-Judas Priest vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens lends his vocal skills to the closing 11 1/2 minute monstrosity “Monster’s Lament” with another guest guitar solo from Bill Hudson of Jon Oliva’s Pain fame. So all in all EMPERORS AND FOOLS is quite a stellar album of classic US power metal sounds echoing into the future but really there’s not one iota of evolution taking place on this album. In fact if you told me this was an Iced Earth album i would probably believe you! There seems to be a creativity blockage in these department at the metal music supermarket and perhaps it needs to find a way to become relevant in the 2020’s.

It’s really hard to fault any given artists for wanting to continue what has worked so well for them in the past especially if it’s their passion but evolution is a reality and whether we like it or not certain sounds have an expiration date. While i would love to hear a US power metal styled album that takes things to the next level, certain bands like Darkology haven’t had a lot of commercial success in doing so therefore other bands like ASHES OF ARES just sort of keep repeating all those sounds of yore. If this doesn’t bother you then by all means, EMPERORS AND FOOLS is an excellent album of US power metal that dishes out all those classic sounds in perfection but if you’re seeking something more modern sounding then i’m afraid this will only appeal to the retro crowds. Nothing wrong with that but this is not something i’ll be returning to. Let me re-emphasize that although i’m disappointed in any kind of wow factor here that the delivery of US power metal is fucking awesome!