Once a metal band has gone on a creative hiatus and returns to swinging, you can generally tell both whether they have been sharpening their vision or simply biding their time. Gutlock evidently opted to the former. Warden’s Grip was written with the kind of focused aggression that only artists who truly missed making heavy music return with a strong desire to prove themselves.
It is immediately striking–punchy, clear, without losing the weight of those huge guitars and thunder-drums, without losing detail or clarity. It is the type of blend that makes you feel the low end in the chest and at the same time, you can hear all those sharp edges of those riffs. And those riffs are literally the stars here: muscular, sharp, designed with one purpose in the headbanging. This foundation is established by the rhythm section which is menacingly precise and creates this tight and threatening foundation which is just right.
It is the vocal approach that truly makes Warden’s Grip something more than a heavy fare. The guttural lines are raw and rough, and then the chorus takes the guttural lines and flies into melodic land which totally changes the dynamic. The combination of unmarked violence and heroic release provides the song with grave tenacity–it is not merely vicious in three minutes and forgotten. Even after the first burst of adrenaline wears off you will find yourself returning to that anthem worthy chorus.
It is even more impressive by the fact that Gutlock created and blended this all by themselves. No studio polish covers what this band really sounds like- just plain pure heaviness, straight and true. Each break and change is intentional and meant to function in a live environment where the masses require such instances to lose all control. It is metal that is intended to be moved around, to mosh pits, to release physically. Gutlock returned with purpose in their mind and “Warden’s Grip” demonstrates that they are serious.
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