VULTURES VENGEANCE - Dust Age LP HRR 995LP, ltd 1000, 400 x black, 500 x oxblood + 100 x aqua/ black galaxy effect vinyl (HRR mailorder exclusive), 425gsm heavy cardboard cover, insert, download code Tony T. Steele - Guitar and Vocals Tony L.A. Scelzi - Guitar Matt Savage -Bass Damian Rage - Drums 01 Dust Age 02 Queen of the Last Light 03 Those Who Sold The World 04 Reign of Severance 05 City of a Thousand Blades 06 The Exiled 07 The Foul Mighty Temple of Men 08 It Holds February 21st

Vultures Vengeance are an upcoming epic metal band in the tradition of Cirith Ungol, Manilla Road and Brocas Helm. They formed in Rome in 2009 and after one demo and two EPs released their first full-length record »The Knightlore« in 2019. The album received encouraging reviews in the underground scene all over the world and is now being followed by »Dust Age«, their debut for High Roller Records. Tony T. Steele, guitarist and singer of the band, explains what happened with Vultures Vengeance after the release »The Knightlore« in 2019: “We recorded »Dust Age« in October 2020 but in the mean time Covid had arrived and we had to cancel many shows around Europe. So we decided to wait because we wanted to play live after the release, and we had many problems with the line-up because Tony L.A. and Matt Savage decided to quit the band. The research for a new bass player and a new guitarist extended the time for the release of the new album even further.” He continues: “The album was recorded with the old line-up, except for the drummer, Damian. We recorded it at the 16 Cellar Studio in Rome and after that we worked with Marco S. Vermiglio of The Forge studio in Sweden for the mix.” Steele doesn’t see the new album as a direct continuation of »The Knightlore«: “I think the approach is different, but at the same time the mark of Vultures Vengeance is totally recognizable and not so far away from what we have done in the past.” According to him “the dust age is the vision of a future world in ruins as a consequence of the modern world.” He explains: “The lyrical themes are different for each song, and they are all allegories of a vision of the modern world told through imaginary tales of war, slavery, corruption and power. If you share these visions, it wouldn’t be too difficult for you to interpret the lyrics.” “My favourite track on »Dust Age« is ‘City Of Thousand Blades’ at the moment,” he continues. “It is actually really old, we have been playing that song since 2009 during rehearsals.” In contrast to the rest of the material on »Dust Age«, the title track probably is more influenced by old Blind Guardian than anything else. Tony T. Steele confesses: “I like old Blind Guardian and you’re probably right, but when I composed that song I didn't think of Blind Guardian. Many people told me that my voice is similar to Hansi’s, and this is probably the reason why this particular number reminds them of Blind Guardian.” ”Queen Of The Last Light”, however, does sound more like Cirith Ungol with a bit of Crimson Glory thrown in for good measure. “Thanks, you are right,” beams the guitarist and vocalist, “this song has the melodies as well as the raw approach, all at the same time.” »Dust Age« closes off with a quiet number called ”It Holds”, a ballad more or less, of which Steele says: “It probably is one of the most epic song on the album. We have never done a song like ‘It Holds’ before, it is really different from all the other songs. I consider it a sort of ‘epilogue’ to the album.” Vultures Vengeance are widely considered to be an epic metal band, heavily influenced by the sound of Warlord, Brocas Helm, Cirith Ungol, early Manowar or The Lord Weird Slough Feg, and Tony T. Steele doesn’t deny this: “I absolutely love all these bands that you mentioned and I can say that they are a heavy influence in my life, but I would call Vultures Vengeance simply a heavy metal band. I think that the word ‘epic’ only refers to bands who create an ‘ancient’ atmophere in their music and imagery.” MATTHIAS MADER