What a week that was for Hawk-themed group activities based in Seattle! Not only did I watch my beloved Seattle Seahawks reach the brink of American football through the most awesome playoffs I could have scripted, but I also had another chance to cover my favorite metal heroes from my home state, Greyhawk. I’ve written endlessly about how I came across the band and the genre of hard-rock traditional metal, and I’ve systematically expressed my appreciation for their devotion to positive thinking.
Yeah, it’s safe to say I’m an absolute fanboy. So, with considerable worry I sat down to listen to Greyhawk‘s third full-length album, Warriors of Greyhawk, knowing it’s the band’s first release since the departure of their distinct original frontman, Revere “Rev” Taylor. I always loved Taylor’s operatic approach to metal singing, so I guess it makes sense that he’s moved on to a (rather successful, it seems) career as a professional opera singer. How does a group carry on after the departure of such a powerful magician? Let’s find out.
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Greyhawk‘s sound has been in constant evolution since their formation, and Warriors of Greyhawk is no exception. Over the years, the plain heavy metal of the band’s debut EP has transformed to include elements of speed metal, album-oriented rock, and now, with the introduction of new singer Anthony Corso, a healthy dose of power metal. Corso has a much more “standard” approach to metal vocals than Taylor, and his high register makes him naturally suited to bridge the gap between classic heavy metal and its cheesier cousins. The advance single “Ascension” starts out in Priest-ly fashion before dishing out some sweet Helloween with Corso’s stratospheric chorus. The track achieves the perfect balance between the band’s traditional past and dynamic future.
And that balance is a microcosm of the rest of Warriors of Greyhawk. The band’s trad-metal identity is safe with tracks like “Take a Stand,” the Dio-styled title track, and the Acceptable-styled “Embers Rise,” the latter being the most quintessential growling heavy metal song I’ve heard so far this year. Thanks to the frantic groove guitarists Jesse Berlin and Rob Steinway have laid down and bassist Darin ” The Bulletproof Barbarian ” Wall’s thunderous sound, the track gives me some strong Dream Evil vibrations. But the band just as easily turns to pure power metal with the Running Wild riffs of “Endless Race” and “Land of Ashes,” while “Hyperspace” launches straight into Guitar Hero status with enough pyrotechnics to rival Dragonforce.
I really like the production this time. It feels big and dynamic most of the time, but the leads still have that sharp, molten timbre – * chef’s kiss *. The only mistake I can point out is the inclusion of essentially two epic closers back to back in “Rise Above” and “Eternal Quest.” Both songs are good, but I think “Rise Above” fails to reach the quality of its peers and that Warriors of Greyhawk would be tighter (at 43 minutes instead of 49) and finish more powerfully if it had been trimmed. The band took the risk of including Rev Taylor alongside Corso on the album highlight “Chosen,” and I admit that hearing his powerful baritone almost makes me cry every time I hear it. But in the end, the track winds up being a fitting farewell to a foundational figure in the band’s history, and it’s the perfect way for fans to compare Greyhawk‘s past with its future. Good luck in your future endeavors, the loss of Rev. Metal is a gain for opera!
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Warriors of Greyhawk is undeniably a transitional album, as the band finds its way forward with a new singer, but it also gives the sense that the songwriting has reached a new level compared to previous efforts. This leaves Greyhawk with enormous potential to move forward, and honestly, without one small mistake at the album’s close, I’d be tempted to give it a 4.0. Like the other Hawks of Seattle, obviously, these guys don’t rebuild. They remake. Way to go Hawks!
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 5 | Format rating: PCM
Label: Cruz del Sur Music
websites: greyhawkmetal.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/greyhawkheavymetal
Worldwide release: February 13, 2026
The review was done by Angry metal guy.
