top of page

CIVIL WAR :"The Last Full Measure" ,Review, Napalm rec/s,2016

Updated: May 21, 2018


Civil War is a power metal band from Falun, Sweden formed in 2012 by several former members of Sabaton. The band adopted the same lyrical themes of war and historical battles that were characteristic of Sabaton.Labels Despotz Records, Napalm Records --Vocalist Nils Patrik Johansson departed the band in late 2016. The rest of the band members held open auditions for a new vocalist, finally settling on Kelly Sundown Carpenter, who was announced on February 9, 2017. Associated acts Astral Doors, Lion's Share


Tracklist Road to Victory     Deliverance     Savannah     Tombstone     America     A Tale That Never Should Be Told     Gangs of New York     Gladiator     People of the Abyss     The Last Full Measure     Strike Hard, Strike Sure     Aftermath

It is known that Sabaton has as topics historical circumstances from historical past  the band's trait is overwhelmingly pompous  within high-ranking verses ,which creates saturation to audiences and generally make band's listeners  to fed up.......Known is that true metal goes in cheap atmosphere, and has its worthless against trend.So  by four members made an agreed move  or a rigged transfer to nowhere, problem was this team wantnted to create something more modern on historic power metal genre, as also something more flexible single thematic music but more human touch -Band now counts five guys, but last year was seven pieces band

Its sound and style is much like two previous , the "Killer Angels" of 2013 and "Gods and Generals" of 2015 same riffs, same solos, the same themes regarding the American Civil War of 1861 to 1865, but basically the songwriter takes describes and recount,then, from events that took place in the "cotton States" those days during the war, and of course a lot of innuendoes within lyrics and concerns against lumpen social groups of that era who supported "slavery" status.

Main character and  album's gravity center  the singer Nils Patrik Johansson, looks like in  between Dio and Byff Byfort outfit (Coming from Astral Doors) arises as "epic air maker". First track  in line the "Road to Victory",a speedy one,melodic to the bone with good hooks,also powerful chorus and catchy guitars,perfect for band's demonstration,followed by the second "Deliverance" a rapid fire track, within excelent choruses, rhythm's transitions many times,guitars are catchy next is "Savannah" a melodic, quite heavy in shallow theme ,more pop than the others, the syntheseiser covers every instrument, pace is not so speedy,all guitars are catchy, emits an exaltationed feeling at the level of "Nighwish",lyrics theme gives pretty sense of epic, then comes the "Tombstone",a Weird in potential aggressive airsonic,but catchy track,prelude has some collective leap chorus ,kinda something like reggae, has sharp and unpredictable articuleted tempo transitions. Fifth track is "America"  a slow one a mid tempo anthemic (about 19th century emigration), in grandioso atmosphere,full of syntheseiser. Strange is that even and the band comes from frozen Sweden has for main matter united states stuff, from america's small past,in cocrete history circle, seems that the guys aim at united states audiences and money and fame from gigs due to american ball rooms and chambers,(i figure out?)cant explained all this civil conflict literary material from swedes just for a vice"i want to rock yankee nation" Better song the "A Tale That Never Should Be Told": a magnificent in mid tempo somehow slowmoove ,has constant slow rhythm,grave one,touches the feeling of nostalgia,has anthemic melody ,the syntheseiser lie above every instrument, slow grimy guitars in barium riffs do follow  rhythm section beat, the chorus stands out,each one repeated total four times,poem's issue regards some reconciliation about, between these two shores through some capitulation and both to disarmament so would get some peace. ++  So its sounds some kind of Europower, like Orden Ogan,like Gama Ray and many many others,also  some pop power metal choruses reminds Nightwish, from a civilized mature band, not a company of young musicians trying to make carreer.

1 view0 comments
bottom of page