Fellowship is a power metal band from the UK formed in 2019 releasing their self-titled debut E.P. in 2020, and their first full-length album ‘The Saberlight Chronicles’ in 2022.
Featuring twelve songs over an incredible sixty-five minutes, Fellowship blends symphonic and folk metal elements into their power metal roots – delivering a light and breezy sound that is infectious and highly pleasurable to the ears. I say light and breezy, but there’s still a definite heavy edge to the band’s sound – ‘Until The Fires Die’ catapulting the album forward in a blaze of glorious tempo-changing melodic power metal. And from the off, the folk-influence can be heard prominently, the band running across the land without a care in the world. One could even say care-free – oops, one just did! After just the one song, I find the band’s sound conjuring up fantasy images such as Dungeons & Dragons, witches, woods, and wizards…the band powering on with the heavier ‘Atlas’ – the classic “foot on the monitor” gallop making its first emphatic appearance. ‘Cause being a British band, like legends Iron Maiden who arguably invented the galloping style of heavy metal, I’m sure we’re gonna hear it many more times before the album ends. ‘Glory Days’ maintains the foot on the gas momentum of the opening double salvo, actually increasing the pace and intensity, raising a comparison to the European style of power metal – fast-paced, screaming guitars, and high-pitched vocals. Cracking stuff from a new band making their first in-road into the metal scene…
…and an impressive one at that! The pace of the album increases once more, this time for the blistering ‘Oak And Ash’. Flying at high velocity, Fellowship adds a touch of fury to their sound, as ‘Oak And Ash’ powers on with ultimate authority and urgency not felt before. Head bangingly infectious, ‘The Saberlight Chronicles’ is turning into a breathless romp of roaring power metal pomp. And for the first time, the scorching pace is doused down, in favor of the mid-tempo melodic march of anthemic styled metal in the shape of ‘Hearts Upon The Hill’ – while still remaining as infectious and catchy as everything that has gone before! This album quickly became one of the biggest surprises of the year…so far! Pace makes an immediate return with ‘Scars And Shrapnel Wounds’ changing gears and powering forward with the band’s insanely prominent intent. An intent that has seen the album create an air of breathlessness of which there is no respite – the band keeping their foot pressed down on the accelerator pedal – and pressed hard!
Switching from out and out power metal to a more heavy metal feel, ‘The Hours Of Wintertime’ is a bolder and brashier song – that proceeds to blend in the band’s root power metal sound. Fellowship shows flashes of traditional heavy metal but much prefers to take the power metal approach for their music. And what a great job they’re doing too! The album marching on with ‘Glint’ – adopting a more mid-tempo gallop than heard earlier, but bringing forth (for the first time) a majestic swagger. The band continued their incredible tempo and gear-changing approach to power metal. Intriguing, exciting, and enthralling are all words to describe how ‘The Saberlight Chronicles’ is panning out. A hymn-like feel rises to the fore as ‘The Saint Beyond The River’ gets underway, proceeding to speed up and become another fast-paced anthem. ‘The Saint Beyond The River’ is one of those songs that’ll encourage a live audience to stand, sing, applaud and cheer – possibly as a concert ender from the band.
With prominent keyboards giving life to ‘Silhouette’, it looks like we’re heading for a ballad – and as the vocals kick in…we are! Although, the band does maintain the hymn-like atmosphere of the previous song, with ‘Silhouette’ becoming a hard-hitting power ballad. And while I still maintain the opinion of ballads should be on rock albums and not metal ones, I’m gonna give the band a pass on this one. ‘Cause ‘Silhouette’ keeps building and is eventually lifted out of ballad territory! Fellowship hit the gas once again and roar off with ‘Still Enough’, weaving a furious path across the land – bringing forth the gallop and foot on the monitor feel…both styles of metal heard previously. The band continues to delight and excite the senses with a cracking performance. Bringing a very good album to a close is the nine minutes plus ‘Avalon’ – a majestic and bold power metal epic. Fellowship has not relented on the grandiose nature of their debut, every song dripping with elegance and authority.
Overall, over an hour of power metal pomp, Fellowship delivers an exciting, infectious, and very impressive debut album.
TRACKLIST
Until The Fires Die
Atlas
Glory Days
Oak And Ash
Hearts Upon The Hill
Scars And Shrapnel Wounds
The Hours Of Wintertime
Glint
The Saint Beyond The River
Silhouette
Still Enough
Avalon
Fellowship: Facebook
Release Year: 2022
Label: Scarlet Records
Category: Album
Country: UK
Reviewed by Iron Mathew for Frenzy Fire, and Metal-Roos.
