After a short Scottish bagpipe band instrumental intro (‘Days Of Revenge’), the most striking element of the eleven remaining songs (a 49-second ‘The Piper McLeod’ is just that signature Scotch instrument) is the speedy, power metal delivery. Unlike most recent efforts, Chris Boltendahl and the Grave ones are fully energized, only the gritty title track (retelling of Viking devastation) and a closing ‘When Rain Turns To Blood’ are ballads, the latter featuring more a cappella work from the frontman. OK, the electrified acoustic ending to ‘Whom The Gods Love’ plods along (similar to the opening of Iron Maiden’s The Clansman’, also Scottish themed), slower than the rest, with dissonant piano notes come the chorus, but otherwise, "The Clans Will Rise Again" is all-out speed!

Check out ‘Paid in Blood’, ‘Hammer Of The Scots’, ‘Rebels’, ‘Spider’ and ‘Execution’. As someone who owns all their output, including the Digger album, can honestly say Boltendahl hasn’t been this consistently intense since the 80s! Thematically, all the tunes deal with Scottish clan life. Not as specific to historic details/persons as "Tunes Of War" (to which this is officially sanctioned as a sequel), but utilizes period-piece lyrical references. The exception is the blistering, aforementioned 3:19 tale of arachnophobia. The chorus to ‘Highland Farewell’ has a Skyclad rollick to it, but again that’s authentic. Can’t say enough good things, just buy it!