Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards

Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards
Studio album by Gloryhammer
Released September 25, 2015
Recorded LSD Studios, Lübeck, Germany, April–May 2015
Genre Power metal
Label Napalm Records
Producer Lasse Lammert
Gloryhammer chronology
Tales from the Kingdom of Fife
(2013)
Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards
(2015)
Singles from Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards
  1. "Universe on Fire"
    Released: 28 August 2015

Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards is the second album by Scottish-Swiss symphonic power metal band Gloryhammer. It was released on September 25, 2015.[1] The deluxe edition contains an additional disc of orchestral renditions of the full album, with alternate titles. It reached number 18 in the UK Rock & Metal Charts.[2]

Story

In 1992, a millennium after the events of Tales from the Kingdom of Fife, the evil wizard Zargothrax remains in cryogenic sleep, imprisoned on Triton and guarded by the Space Knights of Crail (“Infernus Ad Astra”). A cult of “unholy chaos wizards” plot his release and attack Triton, defeating the Knights and freeing Zargothrax, who promises to terrorize the galaxy (“Rise of the Chaos Wizards”). The intergalactic warrior Angus McFife XIII, descendant of the original Angus McFife, sets out to thwart him once again, wielding the powerful Astral Hammer (“Legend of the Astral Hammer”).

Zargothrax seeks out the Goblin King, who gives him the crystal key to a secret portal to Hell that lies on Earth beneath Dundee (“Goblin King of the Darkstorm Galaxy”). Meanwhile, McFife is joined by the legendary Hollywood Hootsman (“The Hollywood Hootsman”), the reformed Knights of Crail led by Ser Proletius and Triton survivor Ser Regulon (“Victorious Eagle Warfare”), and the Questlords of Inverness (“Questlords of Inverness, Ride to the Galactic Fortress!”). Both the allied forces (“Heroes [of Dundee]”) and Zargothrax’s demonic army (“Universe on Fire”) prepare for battle in the skies above Mars.

As the opposing forces clash, with heavy casualties for McFife’s allies, Zarthothrax returns to Earth where, in the caverns beneath Dundee, he begins a ritual to unleash the hellish Elder God Kor-Virliath upon the galaxy. Warned of the danger by the hermit Ralathor, the Hootsman speeds back to Earth and detonates his body’s neutron bomb, destroying the entire planet and stopping the ritual just in time (“Apocalypse 1992”). Foiled, the furious Zargothrax escapes into another reality through the ensuing chaotic space-time rift, pursued closely by Angus McFife XIII.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Metal Hammer (Germany)5/7[3]
Revolver4/5[4]
Rock Hard7.5/10[5]

Professional reviewers agreed that the album's style and story should not be taken too serious but lauded the musical quality of the band. The writer for Rock Hard stated even that it was the one of the best Epic power metal releases since Rhapsody's 1997 debut album.[5] While Revolver's reviewer wrote that the "ultra-happy key changes in the choruses of 'Legend of the Astral Hammer' and 'Victorious Eagle Warfare' would put Bon Jovi’s 'Livin’ on a Prayer” to shame', the German edition of Metal Hammer argued that the band was pursuing a risky concept with its overly high-pitched voices.[3][4]

Track listing

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Infernus Ad Astra"  Christopher BowesBen Turk1:24
2."Rise of the Chaos Wizards"  BowesBowes, Turk, Paul Templing3:57
3."Legend of the Astral Hammer"  BowesGloryhammer5:13
4."Goblin King of the Darkstorm Galaxy"  BowesBowes, Turk, Templing3:38
5."The Hollywood Hootsman"  BowesBowes, Templing, Turk3:54
6."Victorious Eagle Warfare"  BowesBowes, Turk, Templing4:59
7."Questlords of Inverness, Ride to the Galactic Fortress!"  Bowes, Thomas WinklerBowes, Winkler, Turk, Templing5:22
8."Universe on Fire"  Bowes, WinklerBowes, Turk4:06
9."Heroes (of Dundee)"  Winkler, BowesWinkler, Bowes, Turk, Templing5:49
10."Apocalypse 1992"  BowesTurk, Bowes, Winkler9:38
Total length:48:00
Physical Version Hidden Track
No.TitleLength
11."Dundax Aeterna[6]"  4:26
Total length:52:26

All orchestrations scored and conducted by Ben Turk.

Apocalypse Suite For Orchestra & Choir (Deluxe Edition Disc 2)
No.TitleMusicLength
11."Main Title"  Turk2:02
12."The Attack on Triton"  Bowes, Turk, Templing3:58
13."Angus McFife XIII's Theme"  Gloryhammer5:16
14."An Evil Wizard Does a Quest"  Bowes, Turk, Templing3:38
15."The King of California"  Bowes, Templing, Turk3:52
16."Ser Proletius Returns"  Bowes, Turk, Templing4:58
17."Lords of Space and Time"  Bowes, Winkler, Turk, Templing5:22
18."To Claim Space Throne"  Bowes, Turk4:04
19."An Epic War is Fight"  Winkler, Bowes, Turk, Templing5:50
20."Dundee Will Fall"  Turk, Bowes, Winkler9:50
Total length:1:36:50

Personnel

Band members
Production

Charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
scope="row" UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[2] 18
scope="row" Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[7] 100
scope="row" Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[8] 121
scope="row" German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[9] 53
scope="row" Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[1] 64

References

  1. 1 2 "Swisscharts.com – GloryHammer – Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Riedl, Katrin (September 25, 2015). "Gloryhammer Space 1992: Rise Of The Chaos Wizards". Metal Hammer (in German). Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Aykroyd, Lucas (September 22, 2015). "Review: Gloryhammer – Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards". Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Peters, Jens (2015). [https://www.rockhard.de/megazine/reviewarchiv/review-anzeigen.html?tx_rxsearch_pi1[review]=35583 "Space 1992: Rise Of The Chaos Wizards"]. Rock Hard (in German). No. 341.
  6. "ALBUM REVIEW: GLORYHAMMER – SPACE 1992: RISE OF THE CHAOS WIZARDS". The Metalist. 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  7. "Ultratop.be – GloryHammer – Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  8. "Ultratop.be – GloryHammer – Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  9. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
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