Album Review: Ültra Raptör - Tyrants
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
Back in the early 1980s, Newcastle outfit Raven coined the phrase athletic metal. It was a prototype hybrid of speed, power, and thrash metal at a time when such labels were all in their infancy. Power forward 40 years and you’ll find Ültra Raptör. Formed in 2015 in Québec City, Canada by three metal fans by the names of Criss Raptör, Steve Force, and Rick Wild. Six years after they formed, and with a changed line-up which features only Criss Raptör from that original line-up, Ültra Raptör are poised to launch their debut full length, ‘Tyrants’.
If you don’t enjoy that maniacal type of speed metal, then ‘Tyrants’ will be one to step quickly past. It is an album with one foot firmly in the 1980s, taking influences not only from the likes of Raven but a plethora of German power and speed metal bands of the time. This is high adrenaline music, with 100mph playing, Searingly high pitched vocals and frantic drumming the order of the day. Throw in the band’s subject matter that focuses on fantasy, sci-fi and comic books and this will either be a dream or a nightmare.
There’s no doubt that the playing is solid. The musicianship is skilled; I’m sure it takes some effort to play at this speed. And in parts, the songs are enjoyable. The frantic opening of ‘Missile (Metal Warrior)’ and ‘Cybörg-Rex’ should appeal to those who enjoy the likes of early Blind Guardian, Helloween and Running Wild. But the challenge for any band playing this type of music is how to keep the listener engaged and after four or five songs, the repetitive nature of the songs begins to wear a bit thin, and I found my attention drifting away. Vocalist Phil T Lung is a competent singer, yet his lower octaves on ‘An Offering to the Tyrant’ was reminiscent of some of Lips from Anvil’s poorer performances and there are several of them on record. ‘Gale Runner’ rocks along but doesn’t really make much of an impact despite Raptör’s screaming solo work.
It’s muscular metal that will undoubtedly gain many fans due to its sheer ferocity. I always wondered why people liked Dragonforce; it’s likely that Ültra Raptör will appeal to a similar audience. For me, one play through was ample. It’s not something I’d listen to by choice, but I am very picky about the power metal I choose.
