The Quill Master Of The Skies Review

The Quill

Master Of The Skies

Metalville Records

2026

I’ve apparently been living under a rock… I’m not sure how the Swedish Stoner/Classic Hard Rock band The Quill managed to slip past me, but they did. I pride myself on being plugged into this scene, yet I’d never crossed paths with them until their new album landed in my inbox. The band has been active since 1995, with a catalog that includes 13 releases spanning full-lengths, live records, and EPs.

I can’t speak to their earlier work, as it’s all new territory for me, but their latest album, “Master Of The Skies”, serves as a trial-by-fire introduction. Right out of the gate, the band’s unmistakable Sabbathian groove stands front and center, with clear nods to Black Sabbath, Trouble, and Candlemass, all filtered through a late-’70s Hard Rock lens. That Classic Rock backbone is ultimately what resonates most, it’s not about how low or slow things can go. Instead, The Quill leans into feel, groove, and songwriting.

While the album does feature slower passages and dynamic build-ups, they never feel bloated or repetitive. The band knows when to let a riff breathe and when to move on, creating space and atmosphere without falling into the trap of droning excess. That sense of restraint and musicality sets them apart from many acts that cling too tightly to the Stoner label. In fact, on my first listen, those genre markers didn’t stand out nearly as much as the album’s strong Rock foundation.

Vocally, the performance lands somewhere between the Ozzy-era of Black Sabbath and the early works of Trouble and Candlemass, without veering into overly epic territory. There are even shades of Phil Swanson in the delivery. Given how much I’ve been immersed in Ozzy Osbourne’s catalog lately, that familiar tone hits especially close to home. Under the circumstances, it adds an unexpected emotional weight, making “Master Of The Skies” feel even more personal.

Clocking in at around 45 minutes across ten tracks, the album occasionally stretches its ideas a bit, but the strength of the songwriting and arrangements carries it through. The riffs are memorable, easily the kind you find yourself humming later, and that’s always a strong sign of quality.

At the end of the day, this album hits on everything I value in this style. Whether or not The Quill fully embraces the Stoner label, it’s still the easiest way to categorize them. If you’re into Classic Hard Rock with a heavy dose of Sabbath worship in the DNA, “Master Of The Skies” is well worth your time.

Standouts – “It’s Over”, “If Tomorrow Never Comes”, “Light Turn Low” and “Mastodon”.

~Black Angel