Grand Magus: Iron Will (2008)

Although doom and traditional heavy metal bands have their younger adherents, you’re more likely to see short-haired IT guys and skullets in their crowds. That’s because these were the types of metal spawned during the genre’s early days, the ’70s and ’80s, before downtuned speed and indecipherable vocals became prevalant among youngsters seeking the most extreme music they could find. I was lucky enough to come into metal fandom during the late ’80s, so while I’m able to appreciate a well-executed blastbeat and subterranean growl, I can just as easily enjoy a hooky riff and powerful “clean” singing. Sweden’s Grand Magus do have old-school appeal, in that there’s nothing very modern in their music, but that does not make them pure “dad rock.” They started as a more American-sounding doom band (read: lead-heavy blues, Pentagram/St. Vitus/Trouble style), but have evolved into a more melodious Eurometal beast, evoking the Dio years of Black Sabbath more than the Ozzy ones, with a heavy helping of pagan lyrical themes that are at once timeless and conveniently contemporary. Iron Will, the trio’s fourth album, begins and ends with massive Viking riffs, “Like the Oar Strikes the Water” and “I Am the North” as well as the title track riding manly seafaring surges untainted by gothic frills. They occasionally pick up the pace (“Fear Is the Key,” “The Shadow Knows”), and even hearken back to their early days with the Candlemass-y double-whammy of “Self Deceiver” and “Beyond Good and Evil.” What makes Iron Will truly supreme is the hearty leather-lunged wail of guitarist Janne “JB” Christoffersson (also of Spiritual Beggars, the stoner rock faves featuring Carcass/Arch Enemy axeman Michael Amott and Opeth keyboardist Per Wiberg). Vintage and emotional, that voice is as metal is it gets, and, yes, your dad might like it, too.

“Like the Oar Strikes the Water” (at Metal Rock Fest, Lillehammer, 8/16/08)

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