WATCHER - Mistress of Our Time

Straight out the gate with “Sorceress”, WATCHER delivers some solid fantasy-based heavy metal. “Out of Your Sight” is full of energy, aggressive riffs and a classic heavy metal soul from Gustafsson’s vocals, leading on in “Down from the Skies Divine.” The works are full of heart and are felt in the performance. 

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The mythic fantasy energy electrifies in “Chalice of Light”, striking with thunderous drums and bass. The energy remains high in “2084”, a more future-focused setting in comparison. The lyrics of Mistress of Our Time’s tracks are strong, bursting with imagination. There’s a harrowing echo to the songs, allowing for plenty of atmosphere and ambiguous age. It feels very 80s in the best of ways. 

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A huge highlight of Mistress of our Time is we’re treated to “Utvalda svärdets natt” and “Glömskans sjö” -- both strong songs, sung entirely in WATCHER’s native language, Swedish. The latter demonstrates those sustaining, yearning vocals with a gentle intro leading into thunder once more.

Ending the album is “Chosen by Fate” with its running riffs and high adrenaline, followed by “The Raven” with its beautiful, acoustic atmosphere. It is a harmonic end, a slower song that tells the most vivid story, leading into one last hurrah of heavy metal. It feels like an encore piece, ending the tracklist with a bang.

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Standing strong, WATCHER has perfected a sound that sounds decades old, yet full of fresh blood, creating a great contender to the classics. They weave magical narratives of sorcery and fantasy with flawless riffs, speed and powerful vocals, painting a strong backdrop to their tales of legend. A great venture, for newcomers and fans of the genre alike. 

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SCORE 9/10

Reviewed by GhostinthearmouR