Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7.5/10
Where exactly does Evil dwell, perhaps in the heart of humanity, arguably where ever it is allowed to take root, sometimes in art and yet Evil is conceivably an over-rated pre-occupation in which to delve outside of the psychology text books and yet somehow the many genres of Metal are always quite happy to hang their albums onto.
Thankfully in bands such as Ranger, the precise reality of music as art as commentary is taken for what it is, not shock value, more alluding to the fact that evil can be inherent and needs to be stamped out where ever it finds a hole to crawl out of.
Ranger’s latest album, Where Evil Dwells, could teach the younger Metal bands in Britain a thing or two about presentation and bringing something at least memorable to the audience’s attention. Whilst it doesn’t quite reach the heights offered by other Scandinavian groups of the same standing, it still has so much to offer, a veritable crypt of music in which rage at the dying of the sun with.
For Miko Sipilä, Ville Valtonen, Dimi Pontiac and Mikael Haavisto, Where Evil Dwells is a hark bark, arguably a nod in parts to some of the great acts of the past but firmly with a thought of present firmly entrenched into tracks such as the industrial like Deadly Feast, the lethal and haunting like Phantom Soldier and the epic and endearing album title track Where Evil Dwells.
The siren like vocals soar high as if Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson had paired off with a Spitfire and sired a dragon capable of destroying a small village just by breathing heavily into a greengrocer’s brown paper bag. It is that quality of delivery, even if perhaps slightly off kilter for more conservative tastes, that really gets to the core of the album.
The question of Where Evil Dwells might be subjective, but the sound from this tremendous Finnish band never wavers, it plays as if being conducted by an angel with social issues and keeps a firm grip on the music on offer; an enjoyable soirée to find yourself in.
Ian D. Hall