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Konquest: The Night Goes On
Konquest - The Night Goes On Album Art

Konquest: The Night Goes On

Traditional Heavy Metal
4.0/5.0

Internet
Iron Oxide Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 06.01.2021 | Released: 08.01.2021

We welcome the new year with the introduction of a new record label and two new bands. The label is Iron Oxide Records out of Poland, founded by heavy metal enthusiast and promoter Bart Gabriel. The two new bands are Italy's Konquest and America's Midnight Spell, both offering their debut long-players. In this review we consider Konquest. You can read the Midnight Spell review at this Dangerdog Music Review location.

Konquest - Click For Larger Image

Konquest

Formed a short time ago in 2019, Konquest began as the solo project of multi-instrumentalist and composer Alex Rossi (Dragnet, Fate, et al) who wrote all the songs, lyrics, played all the instruments, and did the recording. He dropped Konquest's debut three song EP in Spring 2020. This recording has morphed into the Konquest's debut LP, The Night Goes On, which includes the tracks from the EP.

One spin of the album and you know both the musical heritage and strengths of Konquest. For the former, Rossi (and company) plays keep it true heavy metal, perhaps with nods to epic metal, and influences that range from Iron Maiden to Eternal Champion, Heavy Load to Visigoth. For the latter, the Konquest strengths begin with solid song composition which includes rhythmic dense riffs combined with rock groove and metal gallop from the rhythm section, both adding to the song harmony and melody. The arrangements are then peppered with an abundance of fine guitar solos, the sin qua non of classic heavy metal. For the vocals, Rossi has an assertive voice, with a range from raw to smooth to screamo, yet always melodic and clean. All these things fold into songs and an album that pushes all the right buttons for traditional epic heavy metal.

Notable songs which emphasize the aforementioned elements, especially gallop, groove, and exceptional guitar solos, include The Night Goes On, The Vision, and Keep Me Alive. For something more fast and heavy, leaning to power metal, there's the thundering Too Late. With the instrumental Fall Of The Konqueror the listener gets a fine taste of Rossi's musical talent, notably his blistering guitar work. All said, Konquest and their debut long-player The Night Goes On are a fine edition to the classic, and irrepressible, heavy metal tradition. Hopefully there will be more to come in future years. Recommended.




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The Bottom Line

Konquest and their debut long-player The Night Goes On are a fine edition to the classic, and irrepressible, heavy metal tradition. Hopefully there will be more to come in future years. Recommended.

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