By Aniruddh ‘Andrew’ Bansal
Even though metal has constantly evolved and kept getting split into countless sub-genres through the past four decades or so, old-school metal never died, as classic albums by its originators stood the test of time and continue to stay relevant. Most of its fans have not only loved and supported the music but also dedicate themselves to the lifestyle associated with it, including the denim-and-leather clad look. A percentage of these fans comprises young musicians taking inspiration from the likes of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motörhead, Cliff Burton era Metallica, Saxon, Diamond Head and many others, to form their own bands and carry the genre into and through the 21st century. Hailing from Bangalore, India, longstanding group Kryptos is as religiously old-school metal as anyone on the planet, and their dedication is truly second to none. These veterans of Indian metal started out in 1998, and after years of unwavering commitment towards keeping the band going against all odds, they got signed to AFM to break through in the international scene with their third full-length effort ‘The Coils of Apollyon’ in 2012. They have toured Europe on a regular basis since then, and in 2016, released their fourth album ‘Burn Up The Night’ in an attempt to further establish themselves as one of the worthiest flag-bearers of the music they live and die for.
Even before the music hits the listener’s ears, the awe-inspiring cover artwork alone makes an impact, much like early Maiden and Priest album covers do, and compels one to give it a listen. With a cover like this, nothing less than pure, unadulterated metal can be expected, and ‘Burn Up The Night’ certainly delivers on that front. Staying true to the norm of classic metal albums, it consists of 8 tracks spanning all of 39 minutes. Starting with the guitar-driven, fist-raising thrasher ‘Blackstar Horizon’, Kryptos set the tone straightaway with their brand of old-school metal which can most suitably be described as melodic thrash. ‘Full Throttle’ kicks the album into top gear with an excellent blend of raging thrash and catchy harmonies. With tracks like ‘The Summoning’, ‘Unto Elysium’, ‘One Shot To Kill’ and ‘Waverider’, Kryptos keep the momentum intact without sounding monotonic, boasting riffs and melodies that make each song distinct from the other as well as leave a long-lasting impact. What makes an album listenable and repeat-worthy in its entirety is a strong finish, and ‘Burn Up The Night’ does that with its title track, and the gloriously anthemic ‘Prepare To Strike’, which may well be the best song on offer.
Despite being in existence for as long as they have been, Kryptos is a group of musicians still in their thirties. Through this album they’ve proven that their passion and fire is still burning bright. Combining that with their newfound international following, and most importantly, their unparalleled love for the genre they so wholeheartedly pursue, they show no signs of fading away any time soon. For vocalist/guitarist Nolan Lewis, bassist Ganesh K, guitarist Rohit Chaturvedi and drummer Anthony Hoover, old-school metal is not a phase, it’s an everlasting part of life, and this album is the pounding metal fist with which they express themselves to the fullest. ‘Burn Up The Night’ is as quintessentially metal as anything you’ve heard or will hear.
Rating: 9/10
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Record Label: AFM
Release Dates:
September 30th 2016 (US)
November 19th 2016 (India)
Track Listing:
01. Blackstar Horizon
02. Full Throttle
03. The Summoning
04. Unto Elysium
05. One Shot To Kill
06. Waverider
07. Burn Up The Night
08. Prepare To Strike
Kryptos links: facebook | twitter | instagram