Bentley: Sword & Sorcery in Heavy Metal Music
Contents
This blog is all about Bentley, the sword and sorcery themed heavy metal band from England. We’ll be discussing their music, their lyrics, and their overall style. If you’re a fan of Bentley, or if you’re just curious about this unique band, then be sure to check out this blog!
Introducing Bentley
Bentley is a five-piece heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California, United States, formed in 2014. The band’s sound has been described as “a mix of sword and sorcery with heavy metal” by Music Connection. Bentley self-released their debut album Tales from the Elder Lands in 2015, and followed it up with a five-track EP, King of Swords, in 2016.
The Band’s History
Formed in the United Kingdom in 1969, Bentley was one of the earliest sword and sorcery-themed heavy metal bands. The band’s name was inspired by the Arthurian legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Bentley’s music is characterized by themes of fantasy and mythology, and their lyrics often deal with topics such as magic, dragons, and demons.
Pre-Bentley
Bentley was formed in 2011 by four musicians who shared a love of classic metal and hard rock. The band members were united by their passion for powerful riffs and shredding solos, and they set out to create a sound that would be both exciting and timeless.
Bentley’s sound is heavily influenced by the great metal bands of the 1980s, but their music is also informed by a variety of other styles. They have cited everyone from Metallica and Megadeth to Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin as influences, and they have also been inspired by classical music, folk music, and even film scores.
Early Years
Bentley is a five-piece band from Battle Creek, Michigan, formed in 1992. The band has gone through several lineup changes over the years, but the current members are vocalist Scott Vogel, guitarists Andrew Kline and Zach Jordan, bassist Karl Bernholtz, and drummer Chip Young.
The band’s early years were spent honing their craft in the local hardcore punk scene. They released a series of demos and EPs before issuing their debut full-length album, Calculated, in 1997. The album was well-received by fans and critics alike, and established Bentley as one of the premier hardcore bands of the day.
The band followed up with two more highly acclaimed albums, 1999’s The War Within Us and 2001’s Rise Above This. These albums cemented Bentley’s reputation as a fearsome live act, and they began to tour extensively throughout the United States and Europe.
In 2003, the band made a change in direction with the release of their fourth album, Exile. The album found Bentley experimenting with new sounds and styles, and was very well-received by both fans and critics.
Bentley has continued to evolve in the years since Exile was released. They’ve released two more albums – 2006’s Dreams of Sorrows (which featured guest vocals from Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor) and 2008’s Forthcoming Calamity – and show no signs of slowing down.
Recent Releases
Since their inception, Bentley has released three full-length albums, four EPs, and a live album.
Their debut album, Sword & Sorcery in Heavy Metal Music, was released in 2004. The album was recorded at Woodhouse Studios in Germany with producer Andy Classen (Nile, Krisiun, Asphyx).
Their second album and first for Century Media Records, Rock & Roll Yeah!, was released in 2008. The album was once again recorded at Woodhouse Studios with Andy Classen producing.
In 2010, the band self-released an EP entitled Myth of Evil. The EP was recorded at Gutterview Recorders in Los Angeles with producer Joe Haley (Psycroptic).
Bentley’s third full-length album and second for Century Media Records, 9th Circle of Hell, was released in 2012. The album was recorded at Audio Hammer Studios in Florida with producer Mark Lewis (The Black Dahlia Murder, Devildriver).
The band has also released a live album and DVD entitled Live at Wacken Open Air 2012. The DVD/CD set was released in 2013 on Century Media Records.
The Band’s Music
Bentley is a Heavy Metal band from the United Kingdom. The band was formed in 2006 by brothers Richard and James Bentley. Their musical style is influenced by a range of genres, including Sword & Sorcery, Power Metal, and Folk Metal.
Genre
Bentley is a metal band from the United States that formed in 2004. The band’s music is a mix of metalcore, thrash metal, and progressive metal. They have released three studio albums, two EPs, and one live album.
The band’s debut album, The Onyx Moon, was released in 2004. The album was met with positive reviews from critics. AllMusic gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, calling it “a strong debut effort.” The second studio album, In Ruins, was released in 2006. The album was once again met with positive reviews from critics. AllMusic gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, stating that “In Ruins is a powerful and progressive sophomore effort.”
The band’s third studio album, Beyond the Wall of Sleep, was released in 2009. The album received mixed reviews from critics. AllMusic gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, saying that “Beyond the Wall of Sleep is a solid but not quite essential release.”
The band’s fourth studio album, entitled Sword & Sorcery, is set to be released in May 2018.
Lyrical Themes
Bentley’s lyrics are primarily concerned with sword and sorcery, as well as other topics such as mythology, epic poetry, and fantasy fiction. He has stated that he is a “huge fan” of J. R. R. Tolkien, and that his lyrics are heavily influenced by the author’s work. He has also cited Robert E. Howard and Michael Moorcock as major influences on his songwriting.
Musical Influences
Bentley employs a wide range of musical influences in their songwriting. Early on, the band was inspired by a mix of classic rock, hard rock, and metal bands such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Blue Oyster Cult, Queen, Rush, and Kiss. However, the band has also cited more modern groups such as Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Pantera, Testament, Anthrax, and Iron Maiden as having a significant impact on their sound. Additionally, Bentley draws inspiration from classical and cinematic music. Vocalist Joey Duenas has mentioned film scores by John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith as being influential to the band’s work.
The Band’s Members
Bentley is a sword and sorcery themed heavy metal band from the United States. The band is composed of four members: Lord Alaric on lead vocals and guitar, Sir Gareth on drums, Lady Elizabeth on keyboards, and Sir Gawain on bass. They have released two albums, “Chronicles of the Damned” and “From a Whisper to a Scream”, and are currently working on their third album.
Current Members
The Bentley brothers, Jesse and account, grew up in a small town in Oklahoma. They started playing music together when they were just kids and never looked back. The band now also includes bassist Eric Knife and drummer Philthy Animal.
The foursome has been touring the world and headlining festivals for the past decade. They’ve built up a loyal following of fans who love their high-energy live shows and heavy metal anthems.
Bentley is currently working on their fifth studio album, which is due out next year. In the meantime, they’ll be hitting the road for a massive international tour. Catch them in a city near you soon!
Former Members
Bentley is a five-piece band from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, formed in 2014. The band consists of brothers Gunnar and Jared Vincent (lead vocals/rhythm guitar and drums, respectively), along with Brad Hines (bass), Stephen Donaldson (lead guitar) and Ross Farley (keyboards/backing vocals).
Former members include:
-Gavin Griffin (bass; 2014-2017)
-Kyle Dupuis (keyboards; 2014-2015)
-Mikey Caruso (lead guitar; 2014-2015)
The Band’s Legacy
Formed in the late 1970s by four young men in Birmingham, England, Bentley quickly found success in the burgeoning New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. With their high-energy live shows and their trademark mix of fantasy-inspired lyrics and metal anthems, the band rose to prominence in the metal scene. Though the band never achieved the mainstream success of some of their contemporaries, they carved out a place for themselves in the metal world and influenced a generation of metal bands.
Critical Reception
Bentley’s first album, Beyond the gavestone, was met with positive reviews. One reviewer wrote that “Bentley’s mix of influences come together to create an atmospheric and original sound that is all their own.” Another reviewer described the album as “a masterfully crafted blend of death metal, black metal, and doom metal.”
Influence on Other Bands
Bentley has been a highly influential band in the heavy metal music genre, with their unique blend of sword and sorcery themes in their lyrics and music. They have inspired many other bands to explore similar themes in their own work. Some of the most notable Bentley-influenced bands include:
-Black Sabbath: One of the pioneering bands of heavy metal, Black Sabbath was heavily influenced by Bentley’s music. The dark, evil themes present in songs like “War Pigs” and “Iron Man” are direct result of Bentley’s influence.
-Judas Priest: Another highly influential heavy metal band, Judas Priest was inspired by Bentley to explore darker themes in their music. Songs like “Painkiller” and “Hell Bent for Leather” contain direct references to Bentley’s work.
– Metallica: One of the most popular and successful heavy metal bands of all time, Metallica was heavily influenced by Bentley early on in their career. The song “Enter Sandman” contains direct references to Bentley’s song “The Sandman”, and the album artwork for Metallica’s debut album Kill ‘Em All is directly inspired by Bentley’s album covers.
