Good day, my children! I know you’re tired of the “today we have something different blah blah blah” and then I proceed to name something sadly generic, but today that’s not the case! We have a Metal video game OST (Original Sound Track). It’s Tryael’s Ascension – Hell Walker. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect. Reviewing a full album is one thing, but an album meant to enhance a video game experience is another. Let’s hope it sounds nearly as good as the cover art looks. Anyway, let’s dive in!
Hell Walker isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s MeloDeath like you’ve heard many times before, taking the best qualities of In Flames, Soilwork, and even managing to salvage something out of Trivium. I can’t see how this would fit a video game. It’s extremely catchy but also blends into the background without trouble. You can focus on the music as much as you want because it’s so digestible and energetic, but you can also enjoy it while you slay something. So in the OST department, I’d say we’ve got gold out of the coal mine (I know that this phrase makes no sense. Deal with it!).
This album lives and dies by its guitar work, and though it’s nothing that will change the world, it was so enjoyable. I felt guilty for having so much fun. As a reviewer, we should only have two modes: grumpy snob with a useless degree or total sellout who fears the wrath of the music industry. However, Hell Walker makes me feel just fine. I recognize it’s a blast, but I also acknowledge there’s a strong nostalgia component for me here that you probably can’t share, which is why now I’m going to dive into your favorite part of the review. The part where I pretend to be an authority.
There’s nothing unpleasant about this album, as long as you love MeloDeath. It only has two issues. One is the fact that we’ve heard a lot of this before, and two is that it’s kind of long. Twelve tracks can be a lot when one plays into certain tropes. I understand an OST demands a lot of tracks, and there’s also variety here, but it can get a bit predictable after a while, especially if you’re sitting down and listening without the other half of the experiment (the game, you know).
Despite its setbacks, Hell Walker gave me a good time and sparked some curiosity for a game I had no idea existed. I hate to give in to the money machine! But playing the game is the only way we can truly be sure this album succeeded or not. We like to send you to Bandcamp to throw money at the artists, but today you also have to go to Steam. I wish you luck not going broke this month!
Label: Rottweiler Records
Release date: July 26, 2024
Website: https://www.facebook.com/TyraelsAscension
Country: USA
Score: Beat elder ring after only giving up 100 times, or 3.5/5.0 for the goofballs
Metal Eclipse Reviews 