Album Review: Splintered Throne – The Greater Good of Man (Self Released)

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, the traditional metal powerhouse that is Splintered Throne are beginning their next chapter by unleashing the high-octane record The Greater Good of Man. Out on the 19th of August 2022.

Vocalist Lisa Mann comments:

I still pinch myself that I’m even in this band- and now we’ve written and recorded a kick ass album? It’s as good a feeling as sex and chocolate. Can’t wait to unleash it upon the world!

A classic slab of head-banging heavy metal, it’s not fair to call The Greater Good of Man ‘simple’ music but there is an innate ‘straight-forwardness’ to it. One that is accessible to a wider listening audience because when it comes down to it, all any metal fan really wants to do, is bang their freaking heads and this album encourages it.

Blistering riffs, screeching solos, hooks a-plenty; the guitars are the star of this show but not the exclusive reason why this album rocks. That comes from the combination of those guitars, the immensely powerful vocals and chunky percussion. Together, it creates a heavy metal brew that can go at hyperspeed (The Reaper is Calling and The Crossing) or be melodramatic and epic sounding (Morning Star Rising). The first third of this album will decide if it’s for you or not.

Why wouldn’t it be for you though? It’s heavy metal gold and the further on you go, the more nuggets of gold you will uncover. The title track, where Splintered Throne deliver an ambitious example of progressive energy. Let it Rain, where Splintered Throne’s galloping riffs feel delightfully old-school and Underdogs, where we get a glorious example of how much heart is in this album. A track inspired by those struggling with addiction, and to those who made it into recovery.

The pace is well and truly picked back up for the wild ride that is Night of the Heathens, before Time Stands Still makes its mark as the last original song, seeing Splintered Throne throwing out a track that is a pure heavy metal anthem. The last offering on the album is a remastered version of their 2020 track, Immortal 2020. A very morose and heartfelt closer, the lyrical content and the way in which they are sung, really hits hard. A stunner of a closer.

Splintered Throne – The Greater Good of Man Full Track Listing:

1.The Reaper is Calling
2. The Crossing
3. Morning Star Rising
4. The Greater Good of Man
5. Let it Rain
6. Underdogs
7. Night of the Heathens
8. Time Stands Still
9. Immortal 2020 (Remastered)

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