As 2020 winds down to a close, so too does Grimgotts EP trilogy of Tales, Sagas, and Legends. This being Legends of course, and it is rounded out by another four tracks of fun and high-flying power metal. Those familiar with the band already know the drill here, but it doesn’t make it any less enjoyable.
It’s all about consistency with Legends. The same feelings that Tales and Sagas ushered in are here in spades. There’s a lot of charm to the band’s seafaring (and occasionally Celtic) version of power metal, and it seems they do recognize it is their finest quality. All four of these tracks emphasis some strong use of upbeat synths and a cheery vibe, but back it up with enough metallic fury and soaring guitarwork that you’ll want to raise your fist as often as you raise your voice to sing along. Not to be outdone with some epic tendencies either, the final track “Kinsman” takes the more bouncy aspects of the first two tracks (“The Boys of Boone” and “Land of Tomorrow”) and mutates it into a bombastic closer that hits with just the right amount of pizzazz following the more contemplative “The Edge of the World,” so that it feels like a suiting finale.
Cheery and epic power metal that sticks to its true guns, Legends is a successful final act to the band’s ambitious three EP set that took us through 2020. When Grimgotts hits the metal seas, you know it’s going to be a grand ole time. The band plans to release all three EPs as a full-length next year, but for now it’s just as enjoyable to partake a few tracks at a time and simultaneously raise a fist and do a jig.