It’s often enough that we see plenty of works come around that try their hand at being “epic” in some form or another, yet it’s only on rare occasions that we are able to bear witness to a performance that can actually live up to such a tag. Heavy metal has long been a prime target for an epic backdrop, but it requires a lot of finesse and understanding of the craft at large to really do it justice which is a big reason why we just don’t get to see it on a grand scale despite its immensity. Fer de Lance has been on the rise since their entrance five years ago, yet it is here with their second album they really show us what they’re capable of.

There’s always the temptation to really go for it and accomplish something immense in nature and composition, but all too often do we see bands succumb to an unfortunate fate simply because they bit off more than they can chew. It’s takes real finesse and sometimes restraint to pull off a work of epic heavy metal lest you find yourself literally lost in the sauce, never to emerge and conquer like you were hoping to. Throughout the whole of what they brought to the table in the seven tracks of “Fires on the Mountainside”, it’s obvious that Fer de Lance knew precisely what they were doing right from the very beginning. An engaging and singularly captivating composition that is filled with varying tempo, compelling songwriting, and a magnificent scope that puts everything in a single fascinating package, there isn’t much about “Fires on the Mountainside” that doesn’t fill your veins with fire as you’re rallied to battle at the behest of Fer de Lance. You can feel the edge of battle in the air with the riffs your marching cry and the stupendous vocals beckoning you forward while the rhythms and awe-inspiring scale of the record at large urge you to put one foot in front of the other for a truly glorious cause, one that you’ll gladly die for. This is what epic heavy metal should incite from your very spirit, and Fer de Lance does so to tremendous effect!

Hands down, this is some of the most invigorating epic heavy metal that I’ve heard in far too long with maybe a handful of other names able to confidently stand toe-to-toe with what Fer de Lance has managed to accomplish here. “Fires on the Mountainside” is a great many things, and chief among them is the factor of raw intoxication that permeates virtually every moment of this enthralling performance.

LISTEN to “Fires on the Mountainside” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Fer de Lance on Facebook here.

FOLLOW Fer de Lance on Instagram here.