• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Vendel is an epic/doom band out of Russia that has been around since 2015 and is releasing their debut album, Out in the Fields, through Dying Victims Productions. It combines a couple of tracks from earlier EPs with a couple of new songs for a total of five (plus an intro) spanning 51 minutes of music. The guitar work is stellar, from the beefy, crushing tone to the riffs themselves, each one a monster. The lead work is equal to the task and each solo is executed skillfully, with great feeling and attention to how they serve the songs versus simply bringing a load of flash. "Defender" and "Never Surrender" are galloping anthems, reminiscent of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest from the early '80s, while "Dirge" has a slower, heavier Candlemass vibe. "Vengeance" and "Out in the Fields" remind me of current bands like Visigoth and Smoulder that are bringing the goods to the resurgent traditional metal movement. Personally, I'm not sold on the vocals. The singer isn't bad, but it sounds to me like he's trying too hard at occasionally reaching a bit beyond his limits, but I suspect this is probably a personal preference more than anything else and others may well enjoy what he brings to the table. What can't be denied is this band appears to be the real deal, so if you're digging all the traditional/epic/doom bands cranking out quality music these days, Vendel's Out in the Fields deserves a place in your collection.