There are certain rules for power metal writing here at Nine Circles. One of those rules is: if you see a band named after the first album Kamelot did with Roy Khan back in the day… you review that band. I don’t make the rules.

(Okay, I kinda do. But anyway…)

In any case, that’s exactly what we’ve got here with Siege Perilous. The Denver quintet dropped their second EP, Creation’s Call, this past Friday, and your boy promptly snatched it up. So, how’d they do with it in the end?

Ultimately, while there’s definitely some potential here, Creation’s Call can’t quite stick its landing. The EP starts off with two terrific tracks, but sadly loses its momentum the rest of the way, and ends up being just… fine.

Sonically, the band toes the line between bands like Wind Rose (Good! Awesome, even!) and Sabaton (Less good! Not quite awesome!) — and mostly holds their own doing it. Guitarists Scott Hancock and Cody Martinez riff with adeptness for both heft and melody, while vocalist Shaughnessy McDaniel’s soaring, booming leads establish a sense of weight to the proceedings.

And as noted before, on Creation’s Call, things do start off pretty well, though it’s worth noting that the two tracks in its opening 1-2 punch succeed in entirely different ways. “Oathsworn” simply explodes out of the gate. The band ratchets every possible dial up to 11 and charges into battle with an epic statement of intent. “Across the Rubicon,” meanwhile, takes its time. It lets bassist Eric Fischer lead the way, establishing a bit of a groove before building into a catchy, memorable chorus.

From there… unfortunately, things do drop off a bit. Each of the EP’s final three tracks boasts some interesting ideas, but none of them can quite parlay them into memorable finished products. “Sons of the Verdant,” for example, takes a nifty, Smith/Murray-esque harmonized intro lead and builds a lively two-and-a-half minutes or so out of it! But after that, things kind of just… meander… and the band sort of seems lost for where / how to wrap it up.

Later on, the band tries its damndest to send things off with a bang on “Brothers of the Five.” The song opens with the band’s speediest tempos so far, and showcases even more terrific guitar interplay from Hancock and Martinez. It then gives way to a catchy, fist-pumping chorus that, on its own, would be one of the album’s biggest highlights. The trouble is… these two competing parts don’t really feel like they fit that well together. One minute, you’re being swept up into a feverish tornado of melody, but then on a dime, it stops for an arm-locking singalong. Any sense of flow that either part might build is neutered by the other, which is a shame, because individually, each is quite good!

In the end, there’s some fun to be had with Creation’s Call, but it’s worth considering how much more there might have been. With a bit more tidying up next time out, Siege Perilous might really be onto something.

Keep it heavy,
—Dan

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Creation’s Call is available now. For more information on Siege Perilous, visit the band’s official website.