I discovered this  7 piece fur-clad, face painted, power metal collective back in 2018 with Prophecies of Ragnarok, after AFM picked it up after a self release in 2o17. And I’ve been waiting for a follow up for a while, and it’s worth the wait. As with most power metal, don’t come into this with serious expectations, as Brothers of Metal are are purely fun, romping metal band replete with ridiculous outfits and videos, but man are they good.

With a bit of Amon Amarth thrown in to their power metal sound, they are a bit heavier than most power metal (I’d use Italy’s Wind Rose mixed with Battle Beast as a comparison). Especially with the gruff vocals in a vocal trio that also includes female vocals and expected clean male vocals, though the lone sister in the Brother  act, Ylva Eriksson, clearly gets a lions share of the work.

As with Prophecies of Ragnarok, Brothers of Metal‘s themes are Viking/Nordic (another Amon Amarth similarity) with this album dealing with Embla, the first female (sort of a loose version of a Viking ‘Eve’). It covers all the heavy metal/power metal territory from catchy uptempo opener “Powersnake” mid paced stern march of “Hel”, typical power metal gallop of “Chainbreaker”, and “Theft of the Hammer” and rousing “Kaunaz Dagaz” to ballad “Weaver of Fate” and uplifting closer “To the Skies and Beyond”.

A few of the later tracks really stand out like the powerful stomp of “Njord”, anthemic Manowar-ishly (another tangible influence) cheesy, lighter waving “One”, sing along “Brothers Unite”, the epic title track, where Eriksson really lets her Nordic voice out for the song’s gorgeous intro and soaring gallop of “Ride of the Valkyries” and the aforementioned feel goof closer “To the Skies and Beyond”. In fact, the album’s whole last half is downright awesome.

In all, about what I expected from the follow up to Prophecies of Ragnarok, and with a last half that exceeds expectations, Brothers of Metal look to be a rising star in power metal in 2020.

[Visit the band's website]

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