The name CLAYMORE, deriving from a Scottish type of sword used from the 15th to the 17th century, doesn’t really hint at the origin of this band. These CLAYMORE are from Bulgaria, just to differentiate them from the estimated one dozen bands of the same name. Around for 15 years now, the five piece has released three demos, followed by their first full length “Prolonged Active Antagonism" in 2008. "Vengeance Is Near" now is second album by this band, the first stuff I heard from them. And after listening to “Vengeance Is Near” I won’t listen to any other CLAYMORE stuff anymore. The fact that the famous metal-archives listed them as “Symphonic Death / Black Metal” should have served as a warning. And my concerns were confirmed… A massive keyboard overload of second hand RHAPSODY (OF FIRE) quality meets stuff THERION would be too awkward to use. More than fifty minutes of boredom passed me by without leaving a remarkable melody, a nice part or a cool harmony in my memories. And the strange baying of the vocalist doesn’t make it one iota better. Maybe this barking is the reason why this rubbish is filed under Black or Death, I don’t know. But one thing is for sure: I’ll never again listen to “Vengeance Is Near”. Those who feel addressed by this style of music visit the band at: www.claymorebg.com, www.facebook.com/pages/claymore/21997424385, or the label at: http://redrivetrecords.web.fc2.com