Teutonic Heavy Metal Appealing to Your Brain and Heart - A Review of Rebellion's Wyrd bið ful aræd - The History of the Saxons

About a dozen years ago, I decided to stop listening to Rebellion's records after a series of confusing line-up changes, a tame effort with Arminius: Furor Teutonicus and questionable behaviour by a band member that shouldn't be described further. The time has now come to give this band another chance and revisit its past few studio records, starting with Wyrd bið ful aræd - The History of the Saxons. As you can read, this effort is a conceptual heavy metal record about the Saxons and features twelve songs with a total running time of fifty-four minutes.

I'm glad to announce that this record is a significant step forward in comparison to its immediate predecessor. The songwriting is more focused. However, the creativity has become more eclectic this time around. The record is consistent from start to finish without any fillers or stinkers. The complex subject is treated with intellect, passion and respect.

Highlights include the creative, diversified and entertaining ''God of Mercy'' with its wonderful radio play sections, inspired musicianship and stomping mid-paced energy, the epic, heroic and liberating ''Take to the Sea'' with its memorable chorus and atmospheric power ballad ''Slave Religion'' that grows with every spin and happens to be my favourite song on the entire output thus far. The organic production enhances the quality of the material offered on this release. Its style is most similar to the band's debut album Shakespeare's Macbeth - A Tragedy in Steel that is however still a notch better in terms of execution, passion and songwriting.

At the end of the day, Rebellion's seventh full length effort Wyrd bið ful aræd - The History of the Saxons is a step in the right direction after the unconvincing predecessor. Fans of the group's early years and Teutonic heavy metal groups such as Accept, Grave Digger and Rage should certainly check this album out. It might not be able to compete with the group's greatest efforts but is nonetheless a very good conceptual heavy metal effort that should equally appeal to your brain and to your heart. After a long break from the group, Rebellion is back on my radar again and deserves much recognition.

Final rating: 80%