Phaëthon is another new combatant entering the epic heavy metal ring, ready to battle to the death with their debut album, Wielder of the Steel. The production creates an open, sprawling background on which the band spreads out their forces, clashing spears against shields before launching into the fray. There's a roughness to the overall sound, which I kind of like, as it feels like the band is out on a moor somewhere pouring their hearts into a live performance rather than being in the studio correcting every little niggle with the recording. The playing is energetic but sometimes the vocals let the songs down, whether it is the singer (Vrath, also of Craven Idol, Scythian and others) whose clear voice is OK for this style and not more than that, or the background vocals (on "Vanguard of the Emperor" for example) where it sounds like a bunch of warriors who are not singers shouting along. Perhaps this is intentional, but they are still flat. Phaëthon is a band with potential and Wielder of the Steel is an album with some drawbacks but also a huge chunk of US-style epic heavy metal that fans of early Omen, Warlord and Brocas Helm will want to check out.