Eternal Champion

Eternal Champion sounds like the physical manifestation of a Frank Frazetta painting. It is heavy metal at its most cinematic and heroic, trading the frantic speed of modern power metal for a deliberate, crushing gallop that feels ancient and weathered. The production is a standout, eschewing the sterile digital click of contemporary metal for a warm, cavernous analog sound that makes every snare hit feel like a hammer on an anvil.

What truly sets them apart is the vocal delivery of Jason Tarpey. Instead of the typical high-pitched operatics found in the genre, he employs a haunting, mid-range baritone that sounds like a weary king recounting a bloody history. This is backed by Arthur Rizk's masterclass in production and drumming, which blends the grit of the Texas hardcore scene with the sprawling ambition of 80s underground legends like Manilla Road.

Start with 'The Armor of Ire' to experience the perfect distillation of their sound. It is an album that demands to be heard in full, ideally while doing something that requires a sense of grim determination or while losing yourself in a sprawling fantasy epic.