Rebellion - The Clans are Marching EP
Massacre Records
Power/Heavy Metal
5 songs (23:19)
Release year: 2009
Rebellion, Massacre Records
Reviewed by Thomas

Viking worshippers Rebellion have steadily built a solid reputation within the German power metal scene ever since their promising debut. Along with Wizard they’ve released their new epic through Massacre Records this year. This EP was meant to be the prologue of the battle-storm that has just been unleashed upon the unsuspecting crowd, Arise: From Ginnungagap To Ragnarok - History of the Vikings, Vol. III. With respected members from Grave Digger among others, they waste no time with this short EP, and takes straight shots from the very beginning. Michael Sefiert deep, rumbling sometimes Barlow-resembling vocals commands his forces on the field of battle and steadily leads the way.

Cheesy, yet awesome Blind Guardian-like chants leads the way into war on the title-track. Powerful riffs roll like thunder from the black sky and the drums pound away like heavy rain on the blood-red plains. Robust melodies crack the ground and tasty leads pierce everything in its way. Except for the odd bagpipe part in the middle, Rebellion leaves a crushingly heavy footprint behind, and they show no sign of letting up on the punishment. Arise continues in the same vein, if not a little more careful and melodic. Neat piano melodies spices up the intro, and ghostly choirs are layered over the nearly harsh vocals of Michael Sefiert . The man sounds like a boulder that is rolling non-stop down a steep hillside, breaking everything in his path of destruction to pieces. The guitar-work is as good as ever, and even though the riffing may come off as a tiny bit simple once in a while, the mighty melodies are making up for it. The little more upbeat Ragnarök continues the assault on enemy forces. Deep and operatic vocal lines leads into the best chorus on the entire EP, with some of the coolest vocal lines I have heard in a while. Blazing leads will light a fire under your ass, as the finishing blow that is My Blood in the Snow brings down whatever is remaining, and thereby sets your expectations sky-high for the upcoming album.

Even though I may seem overly positive about this, I’m just excited for the rare proof of great power metal nowadays, as this is hardly reinventing anything. However, they do what they do with excellence and far outshine the hordes of generic power metal bands that pop out from fairyland faster than a Scottish man can say scotch. To be honest this is my first encounter with Rebellion but if this keeps up, nothing should stop me from digging out their back catalogue, and there is nothing that should lower your expectations of the very recently released album, which I and many others look forward to getting our hands on. Hail!

Killing Songs :
Arise, Ragnarök
Thomas quoted no quote
Other albums by Rebellion that we have reviewed:
Rebellion - Arise: From Ginnungagap To Ragnarok - History of the Vikings, Vol. III reviewed by Thomas and quoted 91 / 100
Rebellion - Miklagard (The History Of The Vikings Vol. 2) reviewed by Chris and quoted 94 / 100
Rebellion - Sagas Of Iceland (The History Of The Vikings Vol. 1) reviewed by Marty and quoted 78 / 100
Rebellion - Born A Rebel reviewed by Mike and quoted 71 / 100
Rebellion - Shakespeare's Macbeth - A Tragedy In Steel reviewed by Mike and quoted 85 / 100
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