This is the second album from Norwegian Heavy Metallers Magister Templi.
A strong sound heralds an album that’s an enjoyable mix of Heavy Metal with a pinch of Traditional Doom Metal thrown in for spice.
Good riffs and strong melodies abound on Into Duat. The songs are well-developed slabs of Metal that have enough dynamics, energy and thought put into them to stand up to close scrutiny.
The singer’s voice is like a siren, soaring above the rest of the music. His voice is piercing and has a definite presence among the energetic guitars and earthy drums. A band like this would flounder with bland, uninspiring vocals, but thankfully we don’t have to worry about that as their singer is quite accomplished at what he does.
A theatrical element raises its head on occasion, but not in an overly ostentatious way. It’s an added string to their bow that gives them a well-rounded feel.
The recording is professional and tight; it’s a strong production with a warm, analogue sound that is like fine, aged whiskey. This, coupled with the songs themselves, results in Into Duat being a very satisfying listen indeed.
Overall this is a very interesting cross between Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and Jon Oliva’s Pain. It’s a really entertaining listen and one that has enough longevity and depth to it that I’ll definitely be coming back for more in the future.
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