Oh gawd, the RMR crew had Greyhawk down as some funky element in Heavy Metal’s wonderworld with a mean operatic streak. And what do we find? Vocalist Rev Taylor apparently left the band in 2024, the release year of their record Thunderheart. To further his, well, operatic career, they said. There you go, suspicions confirmed. The RMR crew heard some rumblings from backstage that Greyhawk‘s crew had undergone some changes. So, that’s finally put to bed conveniently.
Warriors of Greyhawk, Greyhawk succinctly called their newest Greyhawk-y hawkishness. Now, if the choice of that title doesn’t sound like an outstanding feat of creativity, you’re not all that wrong. And if you add to that the garish-looking album cover,1 things really didn’t bode well over at the RMR Office Tower. Former snazzy designs and full-throated metal assault lost to the metal world? Never fear. Appearances can be deceiving, y’know? But, are they?
The somewhat unknown new vocalist, Anthony Corso, truly is one of those typical Heavy Metal dudes. One of those figures who seemed to step right out of the ’80s, straight off the dusty old schools that man Dickinson once inhabited. Meaning, the predominantly classically oriented baritone is gone, and in comes some real metal wail. At least somewhat. Because apart from a trve metal scream, he also boasts a reasonable ‘operatic’ vox. A skill he needs to survive Greyhawk‘s former work.
So, the stage is truly set for some great metal to destroy our eardrums henceforth. And indeed, Warriors of Greyhawk seems to be testament to increased testosterone-infused energy levels. The record shows a band on fire, having piled a few layers of ferocity on top of what we already witnessed on their former record. You’ll get an all-out assault of high-octane Heavy Metal with a dose of that real, over-exaggerated swagger the screamo squad of Power Metal usually delivers. Or how should we explain that layered yet garish triple scream straight from early Unleash the Archers on Hyperspace? ‘Xactly. There’s no real excuse.
Put differently, you get a tasty blend of Dio, Traveler, and the aforementioned alma mater of the slaying Brittney.2 And that is some truly potent brew right there. Land of Ashes rips hard with its high-speed Heavy and Power Metal all-out assault. Take A Stand – the first track – just stopped us cold with an outstanding shred fest, some meaty riffs, and a solo to dream of.
In the end, Greyhawk outdid themselves this time. Warriors of Greyhawk proves that a flawless switch to another vocalist in a high-octane and equally highly overloaded genre is indeed possible. The RMR crew already loved the blend of operatic musings and wanton metal power on Thunderheart. But now, the band has decided to take a more traditional route. With a screamer who sounds like a mix of Bruce Dickinson,3 Dio, and Niklas Isfeldt4, meaty axe work still dripping with blood it’s so raw, and blast beats to run roughshod over your eardrums. Add to that the usual turbulences that fast-moving Power and Heavy Metal usually cause in the mosh pit, and you got yerselves a neat, tasty, little record.
And that gives us pause. It seems that there indeed are new(er) bands bubbling to the surface ready to take the baton from the ancient geezers currently in charge. As for this crew, we can’t wait to hear more of them.
Record Rating: 8/10 | Label: Cruz Del Sur | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 13 February 2026
- Alright, it’s straight in line with the gaudiness of album covers before this one.-↩
- Okay, let’s throw them a bone. UtA failed particularly badly on Time Stands Still but redeemed themselves dramatically later. All good now.-↩
- Iron Maiden, for those who have been living under a rock.-↩
- Dream Evil, the band, not the Dio album.-↩