Review by Adam M on May 8, 2011.

Suidakra is a band that performs Melodic Death Metal that has an undeniable Folk influences. The two styles of music are combined in almost perfect unison and in a fashion that is seamless. Expect a lot of acoustic guitars and boisterous clean vocals to be melded with the usual recipe for Melodic Death Metal. The use of these types of extra elements is partially what separates them from the many clone bands that plague Melodic Death Metal, but make no mistake there isn’t anything extraordinary to be found here either.

The songs are crafted in a rollicking fashion, but the guitar-work doesn’t go in enough interesting directions to make this truly captivating. There’s a nice break around tracks four and five that throws in some stripped down, vocally-carried songs and that really helps prevent the album from dragging down with similarity as well. But despite enjoyable songs, there is still this feeling that it all starts to feel a bit the same after a while. One of the things I applaud with this band is that they’re able to make very melodic songs that have a deeper impact than what can be often found in the Melodic Death Metal genre. Comparing them to other bands of the style is unfair because the sound comes together in a way that is unique, though it certainly has its influences.

The entire affair maintains a reasonably high quality with 'Stone Of The Seven Suns' being a highlight. As a Melodic Death Metal effort, "Book Of Dowth" is a solid effort and I guarantee you’ll like it even more than I did if you’re a big fan of the genre. There’s plenty of quality song-writing, variety and melodic moments to become enamoured with on the album.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7.5
Atmosphere: 7.5
Production: 8.5
Originality: 7
Overall: 7.5

Rating: 7.6 out of 10

Review by JD on February 12, 2013.

Heavy Metal and all of its varying styles can either be like a repeated punch in the face with knuckledusters, or it can be so soothing like any classical orchestration. It is this wide swath of varying degrees of intensity, talents and pure dynamics that make all of metal so popular. Enter Winnipeg Canada’s, Grand Master.... masters of this.

Hailing from ‘The Peg’ as most Canadians say, Grand Master is a pleasure to hear. Bringing to their sound a whole heaping of broad inflences to meld into their brand of music into a living being. Everything from the exacting talents of Prog Metal, the maniacal accuracy of Shred, acidic strength of Thrash, mind-numbing Neo-Classical, amazing Power Metal and some Classic Metal lives in every note on this album. From some Iron Maiden-esque melodic love, to Opeth like swings of emotions into almost chaotic heaviness, they do cover a wide spectrum, all with the stamp that is all of there own.

I was instantly taken by the power the band brought. Sort of like Helloween was when they exploded onto the scene in the 80's, but with more musical muscle to it- like a heavier Dream Theatre in many ways. The whole album was so alive and completely electrifying with each of the seven tracks that took flight, soared and became its own living entity. Never once did any of those songs once fade in effectiveness or fall into become cheesy.

To do an album like this, with so many musical facets without sounding like a sad joke or dated - is a triumph in itself. Grand Master just might be the only one to live up to the moniker they have bestowed on to themselves. Canada is fucking proud of their headbanging sons... the world will be next.

Hold the maple leaf in one hand, brandish the horns with the other - Canuck Metal is looming close to domination.

Catagorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 9 out of 10