BLAZON STONE — No Sign of Glory (review)

BLAZON STONE — No Sign of Glory album cover Album · 2015 · Power Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
adg211288
No Sign of Glory (2015) is the second full-length album by Swedish power metal act Blazon Stone. Even if you have never heard of the band before their name may still be familiar to you - Blazon Stone (1991) was the title of the sixth album by Running Wild. The choice of the Blazon Stone band name goes beyond the taking of a name they liked, the music of the band is pure homage to Running Wild as well.

While the term clone act can often be seen as harsh, it's a bit difficult to avoid using it when listing to No Sign of Glory. But in defence of that this is still a better album than Running Wild themselves have made for a long time. It's actually not inaccurate to say that Blazon Stone sounds more like (classic) Running Wild than Running Wild does at the moment, as Running Wild have largely left behind the power metal sound of their most popular records by this point. So yes, clone/homage act they may be, but short of the real thing returning to the sound of classics such as Death or Glory (1989) or Black Hand Inn (1994), No Sign of Glory is most definitely a very good substitute.

Blazon Stone have changed vocalist since the release of their debut album Return to Port Royal (2013). This is my first encounter with Blazon Stone though so I don't know how new singer Georgi Peychev compares to Erik Nordkvist, but he's definitely one hell of a singer who handles the Running Wild style power metal sound well. Running Wild happens to be a favourite band of mine, but I think I'll have to grudgingly admit that Georgi Peychev is a stronger vocalist than Running Wild's Rock 'n' Rolf.

All this said I don't personally find this album to be on the level with Running Wild's classics despite all the good things it has going for it. It's fun and catchy power metal with a bit of speed metal on the side with several great tracks such as No Return from Hell, but Blazon Stone aren't on the same level as the masters when they were at their best, and I do think that in the song writing department they are relying a bit too much on similarly titled stuff to Running Wild's originals, such as Stranded and Exiled instead of Branded and Exiled, or Fight or be Dead which is quite similar to Win or be Drowned. And of course just by putting the word glory in the title they are instantly bringing mind to Running Wild's Death or Glory album. Still, I don't think you'll find a better candidate to continue the legacy of Running Wild.
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