Review GLORYHAMMER “Space 1993: Wrath of Kor-Virliath”

Gloryhammer are still on their fantasy mission, and the band has now brought the next chapter of its sci-fi journey into the spotlight with a new album.

Space 1993: Wrath of Kor-Virliath is the band’s fifth album and picks up directly where 2015’s Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards left off. Angus McFife is once again at the center of the story. After the release of “Fly Away,” in 2022 things had been relatively quiet around the protagonist. Now, he’s back and ready for another round of adventures.

Musically, Gloryhammer stick to the formula that has defined the band from the start. Power metal meets plenty of melody, with crunching guitars, rock-oriented synths, and, at times, melodies sweet enough to make any longtime Gloryhammer fan grin.

Songs like “On a Quest for Aberdeen” show just how effective the band can be when it comes to writing a hook. These are melodies that tend to stick around long after the song is over—whether you’re already a fan of this kind of music or not.

For some contrast, Gloryhammer shift into a higher gear with “Die With a Sword in My Hand.” It’s a fast-paced track with plenty of momentum, while the dense arrangement and shouted chorus feel tailor-made for the live stage.

“Starfighters of Leuchars” takes a different route. This stomping midtempo track puts more emphasis on atmosphere and drama, giving the album some breathing room without losing its forward motion.

“Pax Galactica” delivers perhaps the catchiest chorus on the record. The choral passages add another layer to the song’s built-in sense of drama, pushing the arrangement toward the kind of grand, cinematic territory Gloryhammer have made their own.

With “Demonic Devotion,” the band comes surprisingly close to the pop side of the spectrum. There isn’t much traditional metal left in the track, but it still fits the album’s overall flow and provides another change of pace before the final stretch begins.

Then comes the title that might win the award for longest song name of the year: “The Celestial Warhost of the Dundonian Empire Marches to Space Against the Dark Sorcerer: Final Assault on Battlemoon X-22.”

At around twelve minutes, it also serves as the album’s grand finale. Divided into four chapters, the track is a cinematic closing statement that brings together much of what Gloryhammer are about: big melodies, storytelling, choral passages, heavy riffs, and dramatic shifts that keep the narrative moving. Even some sharp-edged, aggressive vocals burst through the speakers along the way—an unexpected touch that adds another texture to the track.

Overall, Space 1993: Wrath of Kor-Virliath delivers pretty much what you would expect from Gloryhammer. The band hasn’t reinvented its formula—and there’s a good reason for that. Their blend of fantasy storytelling, sci-fi imagery, and melodic power metal has become their signature.

With Space 1993: Wrath of Kor-Virliath, Gloryhammer play it relatively safe, but they also know exactly what their audience comes to hear. Whether this marks another step toward a new chapter of the saga remains to be seen. For now, the story continues—and Angus McFife is back in action.

Tracklist:

Ultra Portam Astralem
Ultimate Sacrifice
On a Quest for Aberdeen (Album Version)
Die with a Sword in My Hand
Silver Talon
Starfighters of Leuchars
Warriors of Auchtermuchty
Pax Galactica
Demonic Devotion
Hammer of Fate
The Celestial Warhost of the Dundonian Empire Marches to Space Against the Dark Sorcerer: Final Assault on Battlemoon X-22