When you get hold of a power metal record that’s been named after a Jeffrey Shaara novel and has a battle scene on the cover art, you know you’re in for a real nerd’s album. “The Last Full Measure” is the third full-length by Civil War, the band formed by four ex-Sabaton members and it’s probably the geekiest thing you’ll hear in 2016. It’s definitely not going to be taking a girl home at the end of the party but it is masses of fun in a shamelessly over the top way. This is power metal for anyone who thinks Hammerfall aren’t melodramatic enough and it’s also (whisper this) better than “The Last Stand.” Joakim Broden may have made a mistake letting these lads get away.
Like their old group, Civil War write historically themed songs where everything is turned up to eleventy-stupid. Their main interest lies in American history (with particular emphasis on the civil war) and there are a heap of sabre rattling tracks about the end of slavery and Sherman’s march to the sea. If you’re a metalhead who knows who Felix Zollicoffer is without having to look him up on Wikipedia, this is definitely the record for you.
Fortunately it’s also entertaining enough for people who know nothing about American history to enjoy. “Deliverance” for instance is a bombastic anthem that has a massive chorus designed to be bellowed during a crowd surf, while “America” is an immensely cheesy number. It’s a flag waving tale of the nation’s birth and it would be nauseating if it wasn’t so much fun. Best of the bunch though is “Tombstone,” a song that starts off with a surprising two-tone riff and rapidly turns into upbeat speed metal.
The biggest weapon they bring to bear though is the incredible voice of former Astral Doors man Nils Patrick Johansson. Pitched somewhere between Ronnie James Dio and Brian Johnson but with a distinctly European flavour, he has a remarkably powerful voice that is perfectly suited to the grandiose topics on offer. He also makes lyrics about the heavenly shores of New York sound inspirational and optimistic, when they could easily have come across as shameless attempts to get the Tea Party on board.
All of which makes “The Last Full Measure” a ridiculous but engaging trip into the past. It has a similar vibe to “The Glorious Burden,” the trilogy of songs Iced Earth wrote about the battle of Gettysburg only strung into a full album and could only be more old-timey if it was sporting a stovepipe hat and handlebar moustache. If Daniel Day-Lewis were metal, he’d be in Civil War.
Released 4th November 2016
This is power metal for anyone who thinks Hammerfall aren't melodramatic enough and it's also (whisper this) better than "The Last Stand." Joakim Broden may have made a mistake letting these lads get away.
