Last year may have offered a much-needed burst of productivity for many of us given the unexpected gift of free time, and the Lord knows we can only bake so many banana breads, watch so many episodes of Tiger King, and learn so many new skills and hobbies before the monotony tightens it’s grip. However if, much like a lot of the population, the absence of a fixed schedule and lack of motivation had the opposite effect on you, then Philadelphia based band The Age of Ore are only about to make you feel even worse. You have been warned.
The heavy metal trio were formed in 2016, and the three songsmiths are aged between a mere 13 and 16 years old, the talent emanating out of their bones coaxing out a sigh of disappointment in your own lack of abilities and achievements. They do however, prove and reiterate the point of being able to achieve anything if you really and truly set your mind to it and give dedication to your passions tenfold. The bands’ debut 3-track EP Trying Times is evidence of that.
‘Deadline’ breathes with the trickery of a demonic growl, the musicality of Black Sabbath if Black Sabbath had been forged in the pits of Hell instead of the industrial landscape of Birmingham seeps through the cracks in this infernal cliff face. Against cleaner vocals akin to the deeper sounds of New Wave of British Heavy Metal, a stocky chorus is played with more conviction than the apprehensive aura that sticks to the verses.
The title track squarks with guitar squeals that leads the more confident, galloping power metal intro, with a solo that shines a hopeful light similar to the efforts of Iron Maiden. You may be wondering what on Earth preteens may have at their disposal to write about, and the lyrics “crawl for many miles, and survive a little longer,” will inform you that perseverance and survival is a language spoken by all ages.
Bass guitars that bounce around from one side of the ring to the other, like a hyperactive child in a public play area’s ball pit, comes to a halt as the closing track ‘Wings of Steel’ makes its mark. The Age of Ore have acquired the correct ingredients with drumming time signatures that gives Trying Times the taste that the quantities may be slightly off, but nonetheless gives hope to the future of heavy metal. Rock certainly isn’t dead.
Trying Times is available to listen to across all streaming platforms and for physical purchase here. Follow the bands below at their social medias to stay up to date with band information.
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