Metal Reviews

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Utterly amazing and a complete contrast from the NWOBHM influenced Arcane metal arts, the band really stepped up their game and mastered the art of the dual melodied assaults from the days of yore when bands lie Manilla Road, Helstar, and Warlord were the American underground in terms of heavy metal. A few minutes into Wallow in the mire and to someone who heard Arcane, the evolution is obvious and the level of musicianship has increased. I am very impressed and I think the album is easily one of the best of 2013 behind the heals of the Holy Empire and Life Sentence.

Long live heavy metal.

Good review and glad you liked the album. There is one correction I would offer. Preston did not write or play all of the guitars. Borrowed Time's excellent guitars are half Preston and half Victor Ruiz. Victor in fact is largely responsible for writing the best tracks on the album Wallow in the Mire, Dawn for the Glory Rider, and A Titan's Chain, all songs which were written or in development before Victor joined Borrowed Time. Preston's guitar playing is incredible. Where Victor is mainly the riff master, Preston is clearly the solo master. His leads and solos are truly excellent. Point is, BT's guitars are as excellent as they are because Victor and Matt were a great guitar team. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons Victor didn't want to be in the band anymore so the chances of the next album surpassing this one are not good.

Thanks for the correction; added it with a note. That's indeed unfortunate that Victor decided to split, I really hope they find somebody else as talented as he was.

Victor is involved with a partial reformation of Harbinger, so that's good.

Also, the song Dark Hearted, as it appears on the album, is a far inferior version of what it's actually supposed to sound like. Dark Hearted is actually a song that I co-wrote with Victor that was intended for Harbinger. We recorded an excellent version with harmonies which for reasons which I don't agree with or fully understand was never used on the album, despite my protestations. Dark Hearted, in fact, is supposed to be a much longer song entitled "Tears of the Sayyadina." It was never intended as merely an intro. Unfortunately this fell on deaf ears. But don't be surprised if you hear this song again in a much better form.

Consequently, I have the original and proper recordings of Dark Hearted if you ever want to hear it.

I'd love to, I liked the one they had on the album a lot, so it would be a real treat to hear the original the way you and Victor intended.
Also, anything with the words "Harbinger" and "reformation" in the same sentence is good news to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd2WAG- ... tube_gdata

Here's a link to the youtube video I made for it. It was done quickly and for no other purpose other than to publish the song, excuse the video and the lack of bass. As I mentioned, this is not intended as an intro but rather as the basis of an entire much longer and much more epic song.

[quote="Holy_Terror"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd2WAG--OGo&feature=youtube_gdata

Here's a link to the youtube video I made for it. It was done quickly and for no other purpose other than to publish the song, excuse the video and the lack of bass. As I mentioned, this is not intended as an intro but rather as the basis of an entire much longer and much more epic song.[/quote]

Sounds very good and I can't wait for new stuff from Harbinger, the debut was excellent and this reformation news is very good news for me.

About the BT album: it's definitely good and solid and so on, but I must say I found that demo from 2010 much better. No songs on the album are as memorable as Burning mistress or Sailor on the seas of fate were. For me at least.