Garde come from a long and winding story. The project
was born in the early 2000s, then left in the shadows for decades, waiting for
the right spark. That spark came when Arjan revived
the material and invited Dan Capp to take
over the vocals. With the original recordings restored and expanded, “Harbinger
Of Revenge And War” arrives as a rare case of Viking metal pulled straight from
another era, created across a quarter century and finally brought to
completion.
“Harbinger
Of Revenge And War” moves with the heavy stride of older northern metal, the
kind that relied on grit, raw atmosphere and melodic grandiosity. The guitars
stay proud and firm, shaped around big, ancient sounding riffs that push the
songs forward with steady force. Capp’s
vocals carry a hard, commanding presence, giving the music an almost mythic
storytelling tone. The production keeps everything earthy and rugged, matching
the spirit of the original recordings. Nothing is plastic, nothing is
touched-up for modern ears, everything is that early 2000s fire intact.
“Harbinger
Of Revenge And War” will appeal to listeners who want Viking metal the way it
used to be forged, with grit and long-burning fire. The album’s story, its raw
energy and its dedication to its own roots make it a compelling debut, even if
it arrives two and a half decades after its conception. It stands as a
resurrection of an idea, completed with pride and delivered with warrior
spirit. This is old flame metal, kept alive against time.
Score: 7.5
