Review THE QUILL “Master of the Skies”

Hailing from Sweden, The Quill have been around since 1986. The quartet first appeared in 1989 with an album called “Out of Blue Corners”, the first of many to come.

Forty years after their foundation, The Quill are launching a new album called “Master of the Skies”, featuring ten new songs. The band sticks to their heavy rock trademarks, while the doom aspect is given more prominence.

The title track kicks off the album and is a classic The Quill stomper. Built on riff power and Sabbathian influences, the song is a great start to the album. Combined with a change of pace and a blistering solo, the opener is a delight for headbangers.

“Dark City” maintains the slower pace and has a stronger ’80s rock vibe. It’s a pulsating heavy rock song with a solid punch. The first three songs of the album reflect the range of The Quill’s musical approach. The acoustic start to “You Can’t Kill My Soul” adds a calmer tone to the album. This six-minute ode to galactic soundscapes gets heavier along the way, showcasing The Quill’s musical vision in a single song.

The band also adds some short numbers to the mix, such as “Son of Light”, a boiled-down acoustic interlude in which Magnus Ekwall showcases the expressive quality of his voice. “Now You Are Gone” is another song that doesn’t reach the two-minute mark. This almost spiritual moment on the album leads to the roaring “Lights Turn Low”, a tune that demands you turn up the volume.

The album’s masterpiece is called “Mastodon”. At nine minutes in length, it is by far the longest track on the album and an epic moment too. Starting introverted and calm, the song develops into a riff monster. This mammoth-like song showcases the band’s craftsmanship. So much happens within these nine minutes — it’s a jaw-dropping experience.

music, and the new album is no exception. “Master of the Skies” showcases the band’s mastery of their craft, delivering 45 minutes of excellent music. Heaviness, emotions and soulful moments come together to create a powerful heavy rock album that proves why The Quill have been leading this genre for four decades. This heavy rock album couldn’t be executed much better.