Credit should be given to Warrel Dane for his unwavering dedication to all things metal.  He’s been releasing often great if not always essential, since the late 1980’s weathering it out through every flavor of the day that has plagued the music industry.  First with major label pedigreed thrashers, Sanctuary and then with underground workhorse, Nevermore, Dane has stuck to his artistic guns no matter what the tastemakers said.  When Century Media announced that they were going to release a solo album by the singer, the metal community didn’t know what to expect.  What he turn in a more traditional power metal tinged album like his latter work with Nevermore or would he go in a completely different direction all together? 

From the cascading riff of “When We Pray,” that opens the album, it’s clear what kind of first impression Praises to the War Machine is setting out to make.  This is the type of slow-burning metal anthem that Dane and Nevermore have perfected on their recent efforts.  The last line in the chorus, “…cause nothing ever changes when we pray” really stands out and the kind of sentiment heavy metal can get behind.  Well, unless you are signed to Tooth & Nail Records.  Most of the album follows the blueprint of 3 or 4 killer riffs and a huge chorus done in a mid-tempo stomp.  Songs like “August” and “Obey” are fine examples of this.  The former’s chorus section has one of the album’s better guitar parts reminiscing Savatage’s darker output.  Former Soilwork guitarist, Peter Wichers lends his expert playing and also acts as the producer.  He does a great job of keeping a cohesive sound and getting top-notch performances from Warrel and the other musicians who also include James Murphy (Obituary, Cancer), Jeff Loomis (Nevermore) Dirk Verbeuren (Scarve), Jim Sheppard (Nevermore, Sanctuary) and Matt Wicklund (Himsa).

While this is a metal album in most regards, Dane does take some stylistic chances on the album and sometimes he hits a homerun but he does miss the mark at times.  He tries his hand at some introspective material on “Feel Failure (Hail Yesterday)” and it comes off feeling a bit forced.  The better parts of the song are his Geoff Tate sounding vocal delivery and the heavier later sections but the overall arrangement leaves a lot to be desired.  Dane tackles two covers which couldn’t be more different from each other!  The first is his version of goth-rockers Sisters of Mercy’s “Lucretia My Reflection” which he doesn’t mess with too much in terms of arrangement and overall feel.  The other cover is his take on Simon & Garfunkel’s “Patterns.”  For a singer in Dane’s genre to take an old folk song, and one as dynamic as this one, and twist it into a perfect metal song speaks volumes about the breadth of his talents.  Little did I know when I put this album into my stereo that my favorite track would be a cover of a mid-60’s folk song!  Dane has definitely earned the right to make another solo album from the power of this debut collection.

 

Rating: 7/10
Label: Century Media
Website: www.myspace.com/warreldane

By Carlos Ramirez

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