Metal maniacs, rejoice! I am proud to present to you: NÚMENOR; signed via Elevate Records, hailing from Serbian grounds - performing Symphonic/Epic/Black/Power Metal, on their BLIND GUARDIAN compilation cover album entitled: "Tales From The Edge Of Time" (released April 7th, 2023). Since formation in 2004-2005 (as FRANCONIAN FOREST; then as ESGAROTH until 2009, reforming as the moniker NÚMENOR of that year), the band in question have 2 splits, 4 EPs, 4 full-length studio albums and this here 1st compilation record of which I am introduced to entitled: "Tales From the Edge Of Time". 10 tracks ranging around 50 minutes; NÚMENOR arranges an intricately designed formula on some heavy-hitting Symphonic/Epic/Black/Power Metal transfusions.

Opening up with the rampantly rompy "Run For The Night"; a blistering barrage frenzy bulldozes eardrums with wildly rushing mayhem, rollicking profusely with symphonic rampage and bludgeoning rumbles that reverberates speakers with rip-roaring tonality. Slabbing solid synthetics; an amplified adrenaline fabricates a concretely gritty bounciness, as boisterous calamity attributes frolicking chugs and galloping ferocity from choppy instrumentalist Srđan Branković - who ramifies with this vast magnitude on rambunctious piledrives on stompy thumpiness while a dexterously dynamic virtuosity manifests with catchy execution for good exhilaration, especially in the 2022 remix of "Make The Stand".

"Fast To Madness" solidifies on a rawly rough substance, organically surging with monstrously meaty malignancy & rifting maelstrom technicality... stridently swifting with rapidly nimble seamlessness while sonic momentum shreds with tight, punchline grooves. As 2nd hammering drummer Marko Milojević belts a clobbering foundation in slamming smacks & pummelling weight, sulphurously injecting an infectiously venomous pound that's vigorously striking whilst rigorously mighty to boot. "Lord Of The Rings" is an anthemic ballad, harmonic and entrancing, as a euphonic but ethereal ebullience buoyantly captivates you with majestic zeal. Showcasing throaty pipes from guttural but cordial singer Despot Marko Miranović, who unleashes these volatile soars with uproarious prowess that yells with shouty perseverance & persistently mellifluous but grunty yet sophisticated éclat amongst a gnarly fabrication that's most massive.

"Welcome To Dying" has a headed conundrum embedded; forging a fierce firepower expertise on screaming density, impactfully impulsing you with monolithic tempo & prodigious songwriting musicianship that's vehemently versatile whilst mountainously towering. An immersively intense flamboyant in "Twilight Hall" makes you feel gloriously victorious, while the striving synergy stabilizes this rampageous meltdown on ground-breaking chisels and an all guns blazing furore for complex cohesion. A crescendo building element implements a firing all cylinder experimentation, clamouring high as exuberant keyboardist Mladen Gošić materialises unique tonality that's meticulously mesmerizing with the hybrid force in flexibly fundamental instrumental distribution here that's most trampling. ...especially in "Theatre Of Pain".

"Damned For All Time" merges these subgenres well with the tremoring masquerades NÚMENOR provide with; unearthing enchanting heftiness into ferociously killer grind of slaying prestige that will make you feel like a noble warrior within the Tolkien landscape of the imaginary finesse the song "Lord Of The Rings'' intriguingly entailed. "Valhalla" also converges those snappy traits while the overall concluding epic "Majesty" starts off with a distinctively distinguished trance sound until the tempestuous tornado of metal rattles heads for more trailblazing mettle transgression that will wander through you with marvelling motivation, and an enjoyably entertaining discovery should you fancy a flexibly fundamental fix of these mixed subgenres in place.

Bottom line; definitely a blinding new release from NÚMENOR, worthy of spinning & replaying a good bunch of times... as an indelible but justifiable requisition of these subgenres remain remarkably splendid to jam to with no doubt, culminating all of these tracks materialise a grand listen - that BLIND GUARDIAN fans surely would love bashing this one, do check it out.