For over a decade, a Spanish band has been meticulously crafting their sound, culminating in a debut album that’s as ambitious as it is uneven! Spain's Battering Ram has embarked on a marathon journey, with their self-released debut, Time Masters, finally seeing the light of day after forming in 2008 and releasing demos in the early 2010s. What started as a straightforward thrash metal endeavor has blossomed into a sprawling sci-fi concept album, aiming to meld the grandeur of epic heavy and power metal with the intricate precision of technical thrash. But the burning question remains: how effectively do they achieve this ambitious fusion?
When you dive into Time Masters, you'll find Battering Ram's sonic landscape leans more heavily into the heavy and power metal realms than pure thrash. Guitarist Guillermo Marqués weaves a tapestry of riffs that draw inspiration from a wide spectrum, echoing everything from '90s German power metal to '80s heavy metal, and even both classic and progressive thrash styles, as heard on tracks like “Time Masters (Gods of Soul Deliverance).” The album's narrative, coupled with its sound, might even conjure thoughts of bands like Anthrax during their Persistence of Time era. Given the sci-fi theme, it wouldn't be surprising if influences from Gamma Ray or Iron Savior were intentionally incorporated, particularly on songs like “The Persecuted (Back Again).” Drummer Benjamín Mateo delivers a performance that is both lively and energetic, perfectly complemented by Francisco Cabañas’s robust bass lines. While both musicians truly shine during the album's more aggressive, thrash-infused moments, such as on “Immortality Fed by Death (Unstoppable Train),” their contributions are consistently strong throughout. The songwriting itself also keeps things interesting, moving beyond mere genre-hopping. You'll find straightforward anthems like “The Persecuted” sitting alongside more intricate compositions, with the nearly 10-minute epic “Unexpected Events (The Beginning of the End)” standing out as a particularly daring choice that ultimately pays off.
But here's where it gets controversial... While the fundamental elements for a compelling album are present, Time Masters grapples with significant challenges in consistency, direction, and pacing. Take, for instance, David Ordás’s vocal performance. While his vocal style can be engaging at times, it frequently clashes with the instrumentation, diminishing the epic and melodramatic feel of tracks like “Holy Grail (Blood)” and “The Persecuted” with a somewhat flat delivery. However, it's worth noting that Ordás does show improvement in the album's more thrash-oriented latter half. Regarding the album's overall flow, one of the most perplexing decisions is the inclusion of a double interlude with “The Prophecy (Revelations)” and “Armageddon Wars (Ragnarök)” towards the album's conclusion. While these tracks aren't devoid of interesting ideas, their peculiar construction disrupts the momentum between what are arguably the album's three most potent songs. And this is the part most people miss... Replacing this entire segment with the bonus track “Wormhole (Dreaming Eutocia)” could have significantly smoothed out the listening experience of Time Masters. This thrash-influenced, semi-instrumental track would not only have provided a more cohesive flow but also allowed for more spotlight on some of the album’s standout guitar and drum work.
Both thrash and power metal genres typically thrive on high velocity, and much of the strong instrumentation on Time Masters seems to lack that crucial sense of urgency. The guitars, drums, and bass all sound fantastic, and they are handled by clearly talented musicians. The riffs possess a palpable attitude and offer sufficient variety to keep the material engaging, and the bass is often mixed prominently, delivering some truly excellent lines. However, for the majority of the album's first half, a strong desire for more breakneck speed and raw aggression lingers. By the time the powerful one-two punch of “Immortality Fed by Death” and “Time Masters” arrives, it feels a tad too late to elevate the overall tempo. The production, while not actively detrimental, also plays a role in dampening some of Battering Ram’s potential impact. Nevertheless, even with these drawbacks, the album’s strengths are undeniable. There are no outright dealbreakers or insurmountable flaws, and as mentioned, the opening and closing sections of Time Masters offer a wealth of material that is genuinely worth your attention.
Despite the album’s shortcomings, Battering Ram has certainly laid down some intriguing foundations to build upon. A significant boost in speed, a more impactful vocal presence, and a refinement of their songwriting approach could transform this into a far more exhilarating journey. As it stands, Time Masters presents a collection of strong ideas within a decidedly uneven package. By tightening up the execution and enhancing the production, the work showcased on Time Masters could evolve from a raw, riff-driven proof of concept into a truly manic and unforgettable space adventure. I'm genuinely excited to see what Battering Ram does next, as the world is always in need of more exceptional power/thrash metal. Speaking of, where on earth is new Paladin?
Rating: Mixed
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: WAV
Label: Self-Released
Releases Worldwide: January 10th, 2026
What are your thoughts on albums that take a long time to develop? Do you think the ambition of a concept album can sometimes outweigh the execution? Let me know in the comments below!
