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Under the Force of Courage
“Under the Force of Courage” is the ninth studio album by Japanese power metal band Galneryus, released on December 9, 2015. The album stands out in the band’s discography for its ambitious concept and narrative depth.

Musical Style and Composition
The album is noted for its strong progressive rock/metal influences, a departure from the band’s traditional power metal sound. This band is unique for building upon new styles and ideas, with each album "featuring its own signature style that is used to portray the desired sonic aesthetic of the subgenre." The band has successfully blended these influences to create a unique sound that sets it apart from other power metal albums.

The music on the album is grandiose, featuring catchy choruses, thrilling guitar solos, amazing riffs, and complementary keyboard parts. The drumming adds another layer of complexity to the music.

The album opens with “Premonition,” a low-key intro track, followed by a spoken-word introduction to the album’s story. This is followed by “The Time Before Dawn,” a track that truly embodies the power metal genre with its sweet guitar lead and powerful riffs.

After “Raise My Sword”, the album progresses with “The Voice of Grievous Cry”, a track that adds another layer of complexity to the album’s narrative. This is followed by “Rain of Tears”, a song that beautifully captures the emotional depth of the album. Rain of Tears is a unique case in this album due to its ballad style musical writing. This piece is split up into several parts, each with its own distinct style such as orchestra, metal, and progressive rock.

Next, we have “Reward for Betrayal”, a track that showcases the band’s ability to blend power metal with progressive elements. This is followed by “Soul of the Field”, a song that stands out for its unique sound and composition.

The album then moves on to “Chain of Distress”, a track that further explores the album’s central theme. The album concludes with “The Force of Courage”, a 14-minute epic that perfectly encapsulates the grandeur and ambition of the entire album.

Each song on “Under the Force of Courage” contributes to the overall narrative and musical journey, making it a very important album in Galneryus’s discography.

Reception
“Under the Force of Courage” has been praised for its musical journey that takes listeners through various emotions and narratives. It showcases Galneryus’s musical prowess and their ability to create music that resonates with listeners on multiple levels. The live events for this album were received very well by their fans, with thousands attending the live events over the course of a few months.

source 1: Jordan, James Boddington (2021). "Harmonic Structures of 21st Century Heavy Metal". Master's thesis, University of Huddersfield.

Source 2? Galneryus - Vetelgyus - Reviews - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives (metal-archives.com)

source 3? Galneryus - Under The Force Of Courage - Metal Storm