Album Review: Ranger | Where Evil Dwells

Artist: Ranger
Album: Where Evil Dwells
Our Verdict: 7/10
Release date: 16th March
Find it at: iTunes
Review by: Graeme Blackwell

“A fiery statement of intent from one of Finland’s foremost up-and-coming heavy metal bands.”

If ferocious twin guitar attacks and skin-shredding fret runs are your thing, then the debut full-length from Finland’s Ranger will not disappoint. Where Evil Dwells is heavy metal in the most traditional sense, but is in no way a lesser record as a result.

Paced at full pelt from start to finish, the album reminds at turns of the speed, thrash and heavy metal greats, with the influence of the likes of Anthrax, early Metallica and Maiden coming to the fore across the LP’s economic running time. Galloping bass, pummeling drums, face-melting solos and high-octane vocal delivery are very much the order of the day.

Where Evil Dwells‘ old-school song-craft is well served by the analogue recording process used during the making of the record, helping as it does to give a sense of warmth and depth to the tracks on offer. That said, the production is also full and contemporary; no need to fear a poorly recorded album from the vaults here.

Tracks like lead song “Defcon 1”, “Deadly Feast” and “Storm Of Power” are sure to induce rabid frenzy in fans of the genre when Ranger hit UK shores for their first ever headline show in March. The band already have a reputation for putting on a fierce live show in their native Finnish lands. Time will tell whether their raucous riffing draws in the same level of dedication and devotion across the rest of the globe. For now, Where Evil Dwells is certainly a fiery statement of intent.

You can watch the lyric video for “Defcon 1” below. “Where Evil Dwells” is due for release on the 16th of March in the UK via Spinefarm Records and is available to pre-order from iTunes. Ranger will play their first ever UK headline show at London’s Boston Music Room on the 19th March. Tickets are available now.