London-based metallers Phaëthon clearly know their onions, hitting the ground running with a debut full-length effort that’s high on excitement and headbangability!

The band doesn’t mess about – the excellently-named Eternal Hammerer is a superb opening track – it’s controlled chaos ushering you in and welcoming the listener to the world of Phaëthon

Vanguard of the Emperor is next Stately true metal, a track that evokes Manowar, Brocas Helm and a host of other underground legends from heavy metal’s halcyon days. Not quite a impactful as the opener, it’s still effective as hell, and paves the way for the delights of next track For The Greater Good Of Evil. Urgent, chugging guitars build up the drama, until the song explodes in it’s mid section. The track is reminiscent of early Cloven Hoof, which of course isn’t a bad thing as far as Sentinel Daily is concerned, and contains some fine solo guitar from Decado.

Tolls of Perdition takes a little while to grow into itself – the early part of the song is, to these ears, not quite as successful as what’s gone before as the band attempts to merge Chaucer‘s Canterbury Tales with Sabbat, but the band hold their nerve and develop the track well, once again building the drama and listener’s anticipation with an excellent arrangement and a committted vocal from Vrath. Next up is the more direct assault of Blasphemers, which reeks of early Iron Maiden. Possibly the best track on the album, certainly the most exciting; this really is the sound of true metal in excelsis in 2024!

After that high water mark, Forgotten Gods finds a heavier, darker mood with slight proto-death metal overtones and Vrath invoking the spirit of Martin Walkyier with a violent vocal presence that contrasts nicely with much of the rest of the album, and especially next track Phaëthon Must Fall which comes equipped with a rockier, groovier opening that sounds almost American but gives way to a thrashing hellstorm that is as effective as it is unexpected; the band’s semi eponymous anthem is one of the highlights of the record, especially the Manowaresque end section!

Closing track Wielder of the Steel opens a touch creakily,  but the slightly disjointed feel at the start gives way to pounding, anthemic rhythms as the band hit their stride on the chorus. At almost ten minutes in duration it’s maybe a touch long but it’s hard not to be carried along by Oskarath‘s superb drumming and the band’s overall fine nose for evocative, authentic heavy metal.

As debut offerings go, it’s hard to find anything concrete to point a finger at and say ‘NO!’; It’s clear that Phaëthon know sound they want and possess the chops to achieve just that, and I for one can’t wait to see how this journey unfolds – hail and kill!

Wielder of the Steel releases on September 6th in North America and August 30th in Europe.