Under the Force of Courage

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."[3] 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. In addition to the drumming, this was the last album to feature their signature drummer, Jun-Ichi.

The album opens with “Premonition,” a low-key intro track, which is a spoken-word introduction to the album’s story. This is followed by “The Time Before Dawn,” which begins with a guitar lead and some riffs that work its way throughout the song and ultimately leading into the next song, "Raise My Sword" - the most popular song in the album. This piece offers a plethora of musical aspects, such as guitar solos, extremely fast paced drumming, the use of string instruments, and vocals that range from mellow to high energy.

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 track follows with a quicker pace compared to the previous track, which gives this portion of the album a high energy feel. 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.

To expand upon the song "Rain of Tears", there is a chart famous in the subject of emotion classification that many use as well in musical analysis called the "Circumplex Model", which was created by James Russel.[4] This model utilizes valence and arousal dimensions, providing a valuable framework for understanding the emotional depths conveyed through musical compositions. For instance, in musical analysis, "Heavy Metal and Hip Hop will characteristically evoke negative valence, high arousal emotions."[5]

"Rain of Tears," a notable track from the album, comprises four distinct parts that traverse a spectrum of emotions, commencing with a tranquil orchestral prelude that elicits a sense of negative valence and neutral arousal. This sets the stage for an emotional build-up as the composition transitions into a segment characterized by heightened arousal and intensified negative valence, immersing the listener in a surge of heightened emotions.

The song further delves into intensified arousal, heightening emotional intensity before gradually guiding the audience back to a state of lowered arousal in the final segment. This skillfully crafted emotional trajectory within "Rain of Tears" serves to evoke a profound and dynamic range of sentiments, underscoring the song's exceptional ability to resonate with listeners on a deeply emotive level.

By adhering to the framework provided by the Circumplex Model, "Rain of Tears" stands as a testament to the band's adeptness in orchestrating a captivating musical journey that adeptly navigates the complexities of human emotion, solidifying its place as a notable and unique piece within the album's collection.

Under the Force of Courage" has received acclaim for its ability to take listeners on an emotive and narrative-driven musical journey, highlighting Galneryus's musical prowess and their capacity to create resonant music that engages audiences on various levels. The album's live events were highly successful, drawing thousands of fans over several months, showcasing the band's strong connection with their audience and the appeal of the album's content in a live setting. Overall, "Under the Force of Courage" represents a significant point in Galneryus's discography, showcasing their artistic evolution and ability to blend various musical influences to create a unique and engaging sound that resonates with their fan base.