Review Summary: What sets this apart from the average power metal album from the 1990's is:
A) Adventurous arrangements and lyrics.
B) Extremely catchy hooks.
C) Lack of cringe-inducing ballads and other predictable antics.
Slough Feg are one of the metal underground's best kept secrets. While they could outplay countless "true metal" bands out there, their worth really lies in how they use their accomplished instrumental skills to write amazing songs while never having the need to show off. They prove this on "Twilight of the Idols" which is a very even album full of weird, yet amazing songs.
The fantasy themes and singer/guitarist Mike Scalzi's eccentric (some would say idiotic) lyrics may have prevented this from ever becoming truly popular, but "Twilight of the Idols" is a really fresh take on a really limited and derivative genre. It is amazing that main songwriter Mike Scalzi has this much song-writing talent so early on in his career. The hooks are catchy and fantastic, the solos are technical enough to give most guitar players fits but are never forgettable, and no song feels out of place or unnecessary.
As I said, there are NO dips in quality and after several listens I've never had the urge to skip a single track. Probably the least interesting song on here is "Life In The Dark Age." This is all relative however. If it were on, say, an Iron Savior or Nocturnal Rites album (even though these bands play a different variation of power metal) it would be an album standout. Speaking of standouts, "Slough Feg" with its grooving melodic riffs and raw, catchy beats and fills comes to mind. So do "Bi-Polar Disorder" and "Warpspasm" which are both extremely catchy and memorable. Another good track is "Brave Conner Mac," with its Celtic-style acoustic guitars and lyrics that continue on from the previous song, "The Pangs of Ulster". This diversity, combined with the unrelenting energy and great song-writing blew me away on first listen. In fact, this album is a blast even on several repeated listens.
The one bad thing about Slough Feg (going by the odd name "The Lord Weird Slough Feg" at the time) is that they aren't incredibly original. Despite their highly unique sound, the roots of their music can be found in bands such as Manilla Road (probably the most obvious influence), Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, and countless obscure heavy metal bands. They never sound like any of these bands on "Twilight of the Idols," however. Essentially, main songwriter Mike Scalzi just extracts whatever he likes about these bands and blends them together with his own weirdass ideas. Some of these, like the references to mythology (particularly Celtic) and the occasionally childish fantasy lyrics may not appeal to everyone, but they don't really hinder this album at all.
Even if you are reluctant to listen to their kind of music, you'll have a hard time not liking these songs. This album is more about hooking the listener than technical displays, "being metal," "rocking out" or any of that BS.
1. Funeral March (Intro) - N/A
2. Highlander - 3.5
3. High Season II - 3.5
4. The Pangs of Ulster - 4.5
5. Brave Connor Mac - 4
6. The Wickerman - 4.5
7. Slough Feg - 5
8. The Great Ice Wars -4.5
9. Life in the Dark Age - 3.5
10. Warpspasm - 5
11. Bi-Polar Disorder - 5
12. The Wizard's Vengeance - 3.5
13. We'll Meet Again - 3.5
14. Outro - N/A
