{"id":59882,"date":"2017-01-02T13:00:50","date_gmt":"2017-01-02T19:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.toiletovhell.com\/?p=59882"},"modified":"2017-01-01T22:27:04","modified_gmt":"2017-01-02T04:27:04","slug":"the-porcelain-throne-grand-magus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toiletovhell.com\/the-porcelain-throne-grand-magus\/","title":{"rendered":"The Porcelain Throne: Grand Magus"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Realistically, this edition should be called The Steel Throne. Come learn about this power metal mainstay, thanks to Toilet friend Tigeraid<\/strong>. <\/em><\/p>\n

Friends, do you like True Metal? Do you perhaps like Manowar<\/strong>?<\/p>\n

Rather, do you like what Manowar once was, at the height of their powers? Before the hypocrisy, the whining, and the crass commercialism of releasing numerous remasters and compilations? Well, you have that in Grand Magus<\/strong> – minus the loincloths and Joey DeMaio’s scowl. It was, however, an interesting journey to get to this point. Grand Magus first formed under the name Smack<\/strong> with JB Christoffersson and Mats Skinner, changing the name after drummer Trisse Liefvendah came on board. After a successful demo release, they appeared on a 7″ split with Spiritual Beggars<\/strong> (whom JB would later provide vocals for).<\/p>\n

Grand Magus<\/em> (2001), Monument<\/em> (2003), Wolf\u2019s Return<\/em> (2005)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Their self-titled debut album did not appear until 2001 and was produced by Rise Above Records. It’s interesting to go all the way back and listen to this now<\/a>, knowing what Grand Magus would become. Heavily influenced by sister band Spiritual Beggars as well as early Black Sabbath<\/strong>, it comes across mostly as bluesy stoner metal. Even still, the lyrical themes certainly point to the band’s love of the Norse-style epic.<\/p>\n

This was followed two years later by Monument<\/em>, which many still consider a quintessential doom album, and, as Christoffersson himself points out, the band’s only “true” doom offering. Steady chugging bass riffs accompany still-bluesy crooning, sounding a bit like Cathedral<\/strong>. You can almost sense JB’s vocal chords chomping at the bit to break free, but instead constrained by the slow, plodding rhythm. The power is there<\/a>, beneath the surface.<\/p>\n

Now, while I’ve been dipping my toe into doom more and more these days, I’ll be the first to admit those two albums don’t do much for me. Their third effort is a suitable title for what would bring us the beginnings of Grand Magus’ true metal sound. Right from the MUCH faster opening riff of “Kingslayer,” you know you’re not dealing with traditional doom anymore. What follows is the band’s first leanings toward the epic and the powerful, with tracks like “Blood Oath” (a stellar driving tune) and the aforementioned opener. Wolf’s Return<\/em> still featured mostly slower, chugging doom-like tunes, but thanks to a tour alongside Cathedral and Electric Wizard<\/strong>, Grand Magus started to build some steam.<\/p>\n