Hadrian’s Wall is a monumental feature in the United Kingdom, stretching 73 miles from coast to coast, originally built to guard the wild North-West frontier of the Roman Empire, so when we heard that one of our favourite artists, Gary Dranow, had released an ode to the iconic construction, we were curious to say the least.
Kicking off with a fierce and layered guitar soundscape, Gary Dranow opens Hadrian’s Wall with the vocal stylings of Klim Apalkov. We are taken on a metaphorical journey with the prose, and naturally, the instrumental production is exquisite – something we have come to expect from Gary and his cohorts.
Speaking on the message of the release, Gary tells us, “Hadrian’s Wall is a musical journey to 122 AD Britain. The single delves into the life of a Roman soldier, encapsulating his struggles and triumphs amidst the construction and battles along Hadrian’s Wall.”
We love the transportive nature of the prose, and also how it is both zeitgeist and relatable to the situational reality that we face today on planet Earth, in the midst of various wars and genocides. The track draws inspiration from Hendrix, Vaughn, and Metallica, but truly stands out in it’s own right as a high concept and thought-provoking piece of artistry.
The piano and guitar solo performances are simply incredible, we experience luscious and emotive moments, where we are overwhelmed at the lyrics, “we’re just pawns in a madman’s game… bloodlust is all we’ve ever known…”
Gary leaves us with a quote, “Music is a journey through life’s highs and lows. Hadrian’s Wall reflects our subject’s battles and impossible life on the wall. Crafted to resonate with those who find interest in music and the stories it conveys.”
We have added Hadrian’s Wall to our New Music Spotlight playlist, as well as our new TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Gary Dranow and The Manic Emotions.