After spending so much time on older albums, I figured I should shake things up with some new releases. This is looking to be another great year for power metal, as not only do we have some of the big names putting out some great albums, but I've got a new band that has it where it matters as well. Figuring out my Top 5 for the year is going to be tough!
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When I reviewed their last two albums, I find them to be a little underwhelming compared to earlier releases. (Though, when I relistened to them recently, I decided Metal Commando was the better album after all.) Now with new members Thalìa Bellazecca and André Hilgers on guitars and drums respectively, they carry on with their iconic heavy/power metal sound.
Not that I was expecting any kind of major change, of course. This band really is pretty consistent. However, I do think this album has stronger melodies and more of an uplifting tone, tapping into a bit more of a Helloween style than usual. This is very noticeable on their first few tracks, with "Destroyer" and "Far Away" really pushing into a very classic power metal sound. Things get grittier in a more typical style with songs like "The Hunter," "I Am the Primal Fear," and the weirdly intense "March Boy March." There's also a few elements of AOR, especially with songs like "Tears of Fire," the instrumental "Hallucinations," "Crossfire," and the seven-minute epic "Eden." Hearing these makes me think that Magnus Karlsson had a bigger hand in the song-writing this time around, as I'm hearing similar things as the work that he's done with Frontiers Records. Naturally, the rest of the band hammers out their parts well, with Ralf Scheeper's voice roaring and soaring over everything, getting in some pretty good wails. Overall, it feels like the band has really gotten their energy and power back.
The main concern I have with it is that the album might be a little too long. While none of these songs are bad, per se, there are a few that felt like filler, or at least not as strong, such as "Heroes and Gods," and "Scream." However, these are nitpicks on what is definitely a solid album, probably their best since Apocalypse, and certainly a contender for Top 5 of the year!
Speaking of Helloween, these power metal legends finally released a follow up to their great self-titled album from 2021. When I reviewed that one, I loved it, even if it was a little clunky here and there, and it eventually ended up in my Top 5 for that year at #2! Now, four years later, the band is still rocking the three vocalists, and we get another great set of power metal tunes!
Naturally, all the staples are here: plenty of noodly riffs and solos, high energy rhythms, and wailing vocals. If there is one thing that kept coming to mind this time is how much they sound like Gamma Ray. I know that may seem kind of redundant, as Kai Hansen always has his sound, regardless of what band he's in, but something about these songs have that Queen-like emphasis that Kai likes to use on his Gamma Ray material. (And it turns out that "Majestic" was a left over Gamma Ray song from 20 years ago that Kai rediscovered when helping to write this album.) Maybe this is just semantics, but I did notice it multiple times.
Still, there's some great power metal, not that would be a shock, really, as these guys have been doing it well since the 80s. Thinks start off great with the high-speed tracks "Giants on the Run" and "Savior of the World," but they also get epic with the two eight-minute songs, "Universe (Gravity For Hearts)" and "Majestic." They do drift into AOR territory with tracks like "A Little Is a Little Too Much," "This Is Tokyo," and "Hand of God," which aren't bad but do bring the energy down a little. "Under the Moonlight" is probably the weakest track, as it did sound a little strange compared to everything else. However, what does work here holds the album up well. I don't know if this is better than their last album (as that was quite good), but this is also a Top 5 album for 2025. I'm sure I'll have some real trouble deciding between this and Primal Fear's work when it comes to placement!
So after listening to two legends of the genre, here's a completely new power metal band from Finland. While they may not be doing anything new or original, I can't deny that the execution of their work is pretty solid.
For fans of symphonic power metal, there's a lot that's familiar here, with Twilight Force being the most prominent comparison, though fans of Dragonland and Rhapsody of Fire will find plenty to like. It's hard to know who is responsible for what, as the band relies on stage names, but Metal Archives at least tells me the singer is Mikael Salo, who apparently has been in a number of other power metal bands, and it shows. He sings with experience, being very theatrical, but he isn't afraid to get a little gritty when it's needed. While I don't think this is a concept album, it could definitely be interpreted as one, as it flows from song to song pretty well. The orchestrations are bombastic and well arranged, and the music is tight and powerful, making sure each piece leaves an impact.
It would be very easy to dismiss this band as "more of the same," and I do fear this band might get lost in the cracks, but I can't deny they have something here, as I liked most of the songs. The ending tracks do get a little weird (especially with the 12/8 rhythm they try on "The Revelation"), but I enjoyed "The Legions of Immortal Dragonlords," "Defender of Dragons," and "Storm Bringer" for having some good energy and epic arrangements, and I rather liked the ballad "Astarte Rise," as it had a strong story that built with the music very well. Overall, it might not be unique, but there is something to be said for doing things well, and this group might be one to keep an eye on in the future.
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