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Sweden's Grand Magus released one of my favorite albums of 2014 (Triumph of Power) following the somewhat less impressive The Hunt in 2012. The band has been known for the kind of epic Heavy/Doom Metal that Atlantean Kodex is doing so well these days. The Hunt lacked a lot of that imposing feel, something Grand Magus brought back on Triumph and Power.

Sword Songs, the band's eighth album is something of cross between the two previous albums. None of the song are bad by any stretch but some are much more "traditional" Metal with an upbeat tempo and an immediacy to the production that puts songs like "Born for Battle" and "Master of the Land" in your face. When the band slow down just a hair and give the production ample space they create a much more lofty and imposing atmosphere that imbues "Freja's Choice" and "Everyday There's a Battle to Fight" with weight and power we've come to expect from Grand Magus.

All the tracks on Sword Songs should appeal to both epic and traditional fans but it sounds a little unfocused to me. That fact didn't stop me from singing along.