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Valor: Arrogance The Fall
Valor - Arrogance The Fall CD Album Review

Valor: Arrogance The Fall

Melodic/Heavy/Power Metal
4.5/5.0

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Pitch Black Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 07.06.2017

Here's a new metal band to cross my desk, Valor from Greece. The band was founded in 2002 by guitarist Spyros Soldatos, bass player Chris Remoundos and vocalist Vaggelis Krouskas. Since 2008, they've had the same current lineup that includes drummer Thodoris Andritsos, guitarist Vasilis Kourkoutas, and Thanasis Lois on keyboards. In that same year they dropped the first long player, Destiny's Path, and then five years later The Yonder Answer. Now they return with their third studio album, Arrogance: The Fall.

Valor Band Photo

Valor

Essentially, Valor plays traditional European melodic power metal. With two spins of the current album, my first observation is they have a sound similar, yet different, from Sweden's Supreme Majesty, if you remember that band. Twin guitar riffage in harmony is embellished with a strong, often symphonic, keyboard layer to create a wall of sound that has both depth and texture. Though I'm not sure if the guitar leads are shared, they are abundant and soaring throughout the album. The rhythm section also has a deep feeling, making Valor sound bombastic while it delivers the speed of power metal pacing. For the vocals, Vaggelis Krouskas sings melodic and clean with a controlled range. He never rages, never goes screecho screamo. But he definitely has to work hard to stay ahead of Valor's bombastic power metal. Thankfully, the mix and mastering helps to increase his presence. The same production brings out the bass line as well.

As for the songs, some observations follow. Mostly, everything here is galloping in tempo. Some moderation comes at the beginning of The Crown Of Evermore, but the song quickly turns into a horse race. Not dismissing any song within album, but I did like songs that had more groove and/or a solid memorable refrain like Arrogant Fall, Flying Away, Sanctuary For All, and especially the very irresistible In Another Time. A final kudo goes to Valor and their label Pitch Black Records for providing the CD booklet with lyrics, something that is rarely done for the press.

Overall, this being my first experience with the band, Valor is a talented and experienced metal band, and Arrogance: The Fall is a solid platter of entertaining melodic power metal. Recommended. And they make me wish Supreme Majesty would have a comeback.



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The Bottom Line

This being my first experience with the band, Valor is a talented and experienced metal band, and Arrogance: The Fall is a solid platter of entertaining melodic power metal. Recommended.

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