Review Summary: A criminally underrated folk metal album.
Bloody Tyrant is without a doubt an underrated band. They are unrivalled in their creativity within the melodic black/death metal genre through their effortless intertwining of the intense metallic sound with the folk instrumentation of traditional instruments such as the pipa and the flute. However, they definitely peaked with their second record,
The Legacy of Sun-Moon Lake.
What this album does best is provide excellent melodies. This is made crystal clear from the opener,
The Jetty. It begins with the pipa and strings until the guitar breaks in with a typical melodeath riff. The vocals barrage their way through, adding more intensity as they enter a more black metal sound with blast beats and tremolo picking. Before the track enters its final chorus, an extremely quick, yet melodic, guitar solo elevates the song to even greater heights.
Simulacra Adrift in the Night is the most harsh cut off the album with its fierce riffage and an intense final minute where the death growls and melodic soloing crescendo together, making this track simply unforgettable.
Vocally, this album is rather solid. While Xiao Yi lacks much range, he makes up for it with his inherent intensity and energy. The addition of the traditional instruments adds so much atmosphere to the band's sound as it contributes to the folk melodies that propel the album to indisputable excellence. For instance,
Ode to the Falling Rain would not be as impactful without the opening minute where the strings and pipa take centre stage to show off the captivating and stunning melodies.
Like every melodic metal album should have,
The Legacy of Sun-Moon Lake has a first-rate lead guitar performance. At least one moment in each track has the spotlight shine on the lead guitar, whether that be the string accompanied intro to
Flesh Roots or the flavourful melodic solos in the otherwise ruthless
Wistful Nocturne.
However, the album's crowning achievement is easily
Final Battle of Sun-Moon Lake. This track features everything great about this album in a five and a half minute package. It starts with brutal riffs and more relentless vocal work. Following this, the pipa returns, bringing in solid melodies until the song abruptly drops into a quick guitar driven breakdown that then erupts into a flurry of guitar notes that introduce us to the album's next great solo. The remaining minutes give a sense of triumph through its great vocal lines and an upbeat folk melody from the traditional instruments that seizes your attention until it is over.
Overall,
The Legacy of Sun-Moon Lake is among the best folk infused metal has to offer, as there is no department that the record lacks in. The guitar work is both intense and melodic, as you welcome its melodies to get trapped in your head. The various traditional instruments used throughout the album bring so much flavour and create grand soundscapes that entrance you. The savage vocals that powers through the mix never fail to have bite. Essentially, every single cylinder here is firing without the slightest hesitation, making this beast an absolute must for those who are fans of the genre.
