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April 2024

• Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
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March 2024

• Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
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February 2024

• Traveler: Prequel To Madness
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January 2024

• Corvus: Immortals
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• Neal Morse: The Restoration - Joseph - Part Two
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• Jack Russell & Tracii Guns: Medusa
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 1
• The Grandmaster: Black Sun

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Ross The Boss: By Blood Sworn

Heavy/Power Metal

4.0/5.0

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AFM Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 11.04.2018

Taking a break from heavy metal super group Death Dealer, legendary guitarist Ross Friedman returns to his solo project Ross The Boss. By Blood Sworn is his third album, the first since 2010's Hailstorm. Once more Symphony X bass player Mike LePond is at Ross's side, with newcomers vocalist Marc Lopes (Hellspeak, Let Us Prey) and session drummer for the album, Lance Barnewold. As I write Ross The Boss has finished a short North American tour, and is now touring Europe, with Steve Bolognese behind the kit.

Ross The Boss

There's no mistaking the Ross The Boss sound. This is classic "keep it true" heavy metal, and what else would you expect from the guy who put the genre on the map with Manowar. All things within By Blood Sworn are led by Ross's rabid riffs and bristling lead solos. After this, you have a pounding and powerful rhythm section to drive the tunes. Lopes is typical and traditional metal singer, generally singing clean but with a rough and raw timbre. Not exactly my shot of whiskey, I found him an acquired taste.

As for those tunes, you have some traditional metal with the heavy and steady By Blood Sworn and Among The Bones. For more speedy power metal look to Devil's Day, Fistful Of Hate, or Play Among The Godz. Something different comes with the heavy metal anthem Faith Of The Fallen, which leads with acoustic guitar and voice before amping up in the second half to an epic Ross solo. With the heavy, dark, and intense Lilith, LePond gets his turn to lead and develop the song with his strong bass presence. Overall, once more, By Blood Sworn is another solid album of traditional "keep it true" heavy metal from Ross The Boss and company. Recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Overall, once more, By Blood Sworn is another solid album of traditional "keep it true" heavy metal from Ross The Boss and company. Recommended.

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Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]