I’m sure its a coincidence more than anything, but Battle Beast releasing their 5th album shortly after former member Anton Kabanen released the 2nd album from from the band he formed after acrimoniously leaving Battle Beast , Beast In Black, but it sure feel like a more personal, competitive move. However I digress..

So while the similarities between the 2 bands are going to be front and center, it’s clear Battle Beast while certainly a power metal band at heart, are going for a more traditional rock heavy metal sound (Judas Priest/ Manowar) , and while they do use keyboards and choirs, they are never on the same level as Beast In Black, and overall the sound is a little more pure metal and less cheesy, and a while catchy , it’s not quite as foot-tapping or full on pomp as Beast In Black,

But there are still some killer tunes here, moreso that the last effort Bringer of Pain (my first experience of the band), heard on tracks like on opener “Unbroken”, the dramatic title track, or hard rockin’ “Piece of Me”  and my personal, rousing favorite “Raise your Fists” (complete with epic spoken work Lord Byron/Bal Sagoth ish moment) . Still, there are a few more peppy, fun tracks that appear have some crossover to Beast in Black ‘s sound such as the bouncy “Eden”, “The Golden Horde” or “The Hero”, which other than the vocalists, could have been on either band’s 2019 efforts.

But the album also has some hard rock radio friendly numbers that could be Heart songs such as “Unfairy Tales”  and “World on Fire” and the cringe inducing cover of Cindi Lauper’s “Endless Summer” and the expected sugary ballads in “I Wish” and “Bent and Broken”. But closer “My Last Dream” ends the album on pure hard rock, heavy metal note, so much so I had to research of it was another cover song or not.

Noora Louhimo is front and center, as her pipes are truly impressive weather belting out soaring choruses or more heartfelt balladic croons and is clearly one of the top female vocalists in metal. Throw in the band’s improved song writing, the result is a complete enjoyable heavy metal album that occasionally veers into power metal cheese, though with enjoyable results and shows Battle Beast to be a deserved and consistent heavy hitter in the genre.

[Visit the band's website]

---

Comments