FER DE LANCE is an Epic / Heavy Doom Metal band from Chicago, Illinois and “Fires On The Mountainside” is their second full-length album. The album cover is an erupting volcano. From the start you get the feeling that they were trying a different approach from their culture with the release. The album starts with the song ‘Fires On The Mountainside’ with a nice counterpoint melody that evokes a kind of Celtic vibe that progresses into an acoustic playing while the singer goes from slow melodic vocals into a raging fury. This is an insane track that doesn’t even sound like an American band which is good, since they clearly were going for that particular sound. The song includes a great guitar solo by MP Papai. This is a great song to sing along with your beer horns in hand. Next comes ‘Ravens Fly (Dreams Of Daidalos)’. Another song title that keep the Nordic subtext about their music. I’m totally in love with the guitar playing in this one. That guy can play with a great feeling and technique. Their Viking sing along during the choruses is very catchy. The next track is called ‘Death Thrives (Where Walls Divide)’. This is the most doomy song so far with some growls in the vocals. Then all of a sudden there is a guitar part that sounds completely Middle East, followed by an insane guitar solo. The next song is ‘Fire & Gold’. This one is more like a slow song to sing along with too. Nothing really stands out of it. ‘The Feast Of Echoes’ starts with incredible vocals in the vein of “Ripper” Owens, but with a great melody line that makes you want to fist pump while listening to it. I was already headbanging at the end of the song. At this point I have to add that this is a must have album already. It has a lot of replay value with a nice cold one. ‘Children Of The Sky And Sea’ definitely is a more epic sounding title of the album. Another sing along banger with a melodic Viking vibe. This is Pat Gloeckle’s best vocals on the album. The last 30 seconds of the song are completely insane! ‘Temest Stele’ closes the album which is pretty lengthy for just 7 songs, but you don’t feel like it has been that long since it’s so enjoyable. More Middle-East playing here in the beginning of the song. This reminds me a lot of ORPHANED LAND’s music. Definitely for fans of them. This is a hell of a surprise album. This is the first time I listen to them and I’m already a fan. If you like Viking, Middle-East influenced Metal this one’s for you. www.facebook.com/ferdelancemetal, www.facebook.com/cruzdelsurmusic