Ambrius – Effigies Of Time

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AMBRIUS are a fairly new band on the scene, having only formed in early 2020 before the infamous Coronavirus pandemic arrived. This British modern metal four piece from Gloucester are most definitely on the rise and quickly at that. They released their debut track titled “The Unavoidable Path” in May this year, following up with their first EP “Effigies Of Time” on July 15^th, 2022, independently.

The first track on the EP is the title song “Effigies Of Time”. This is a strong, impactful instrumental number which is the shortest track on the EP at only 1 minute and 16 seconds. “Self Reflection” starts off on a fantastic note with an EPICA style riff doing all the talking. As the track goes on, it is clear that AMBRIUS are influenced heavily by bands such as POWERWOLF. The transition between the unclean and clean vocals from Sam Shiers is smooth and natural, showing just how talented he is in the process. By the time I get to “Breathe”, it truly feels as though I’m being taken on a musical journey. I love how they incorporate more clean vocals into this track, changing things up for the better. The instrumental segment at the end is absolutely unforgettable and gives the track even more depth.

“The Unavoidable Path” is up next, which is another incredible song from the band. The theatrical element really helps to bring it to another dimension. The track feels as though it’s only gone on for half the time, as I was just mesmerized listening to it for the whole duration. “Red” is the next track, which gets me hooked right from the get-go! The opening riff is truly addictive to listen to. I love how progressive this song is from start to finish. The last track on “Effigies Of Time” is “The Pulse And Purpose”, which is a fantastic finalizer. This song is as impactful and memorable as the rest, with the spoken word sections sounding just like SLIPKNOT’s COREY TAYLOR. What a terrific ending!

Overall, AMBRIUS’s “Effigies Of Time” is a truly great record. From beginning to end, I was hooked. This must be one of the greatest debut EP releases that I have heard in a very long time, and I was astounded by the sheer talent witnessed in this record. It is very clear to me that this band are only just starting their musical journey, going on to much greater things in the near future. I’m genuinely very excited to see what AMBRIUS have got planned next!

Songwriting: 7
Musicianship: 10
Memorability: 8
Production: 10