Sometimes a band name can be on the nose in the best way, and Power Paladin makes no effort to disguise their preferred music class. The mission of these Icelanders is no different than that of many power metal groups—to explore fantasy realms, vanquish foes, and have a blast while doing so. They already acquitted themselves with their debut album, With the Magic of Windfyre Steel, which Eldritch Elitist lauded with praise in the January 2022 filter. While I found it enjoyable at the time, it didn’t stick with me for very long. But now, on sophomore record Beyond the Reach of Enchantment, Power Paladin returns with sharper blades and brighter divine light to safeguard the ears of the innocent.

If you elect to ride with Power Paladin, the first rule of the road is to leave all self-seriousness at home. As with most Europower, Beyond the Reach of Enchantment requires a love (or at least a tolerance) of flamboyant frivolity and imaginative play. Expect big verses, bigger choruses, and lots of guitar shredding. While its predecessor was more devoted to the sleekness of Twilight Force or Rhapsody of Fire, Power Paladin now divides their allegiance more evenly with heavy metal and hard rock in Helloween fashion. This makes Beyond the Reach of Enchantment sound brawnier, further aided by a meaty bass tone that adds welcome crunch to this glorious charcuterie board. These Paladins occasionally succumb to their darker urges, embodied by Óskar Rúnarsson’s1 death growls (“Glade Lords of Athel Loren,” “Valediction”), making them more endearing and relatable.

Beyond the Reach of Enchantment may be a bit derivative, but what sets Power Paladin apart is their sheer energy and charisma. Their music challenges one’s ability to sit still; not even my distracted five-year-old daughter could resist the urge to headbang the first time she heard the opening notes of “Glade Lords of Athel Loren.” No member of the body can remain limp or listless upon hearing the heavy metal anthem “Sword Vigor” or the stomping and romping of “The Royal Road.” Vocalist Atli Guðlaugsson frequently steals the show, his powerful falsettos weeding out the unsanctified eardrums. That said, it’s impressive how Power Paladin can write songs in such a way that such a commanding frontman doesn’t completely dominate the listener’s attention. Einar Karl Júlíusson is constantly changing up his double bass rhythms, and there are plenty of rapid-fire guitar and keyboard sections to keep the momentum going.

Yet, all this energy on Beyond the Reach of Enchantment can become slightly wearisome. The album art might feature a respite around a campfire, but the music is much closer to a battle scene. Rests tend to be momentary and sometimes sound out of character, like when “The Arcane Tower” abruptly dies down to a whisper midway through. I find myself missing the naturally occurring downtime in “Creatures of the Night” and “There Can Be Only One” from With the Magic of Windfyre Steel. It’s not until the 10-minute conclusion, “Valediction,” that Power Paladin takes a proper breather in the form of soft guitar plucks. The extra time also allows for more compositional experimentation, with smooth keyboard transitions during the extended bridge section, as well as a brief but lively duet with Sara Rut Fannarsdóttir2 (more of her next time, please!). Everything is solidly written and performed, but still somewhat blends together until the end.

If you’re questing for fun with a hefty side of merriment, Power Paladin will happily serve as your guide. They sound even more confident and earnest than before, once again striking a great balance between silliness and substance. Beyond the Reach of Enchantment somehow overclocked the power of its predecessor, the gallant and galloping tunes courageously smiting the unholy. I do wish for a bit more dynamic pacing, but this may just be a “me” problem, and only when listening front to back. Gather your party and grab your dice—the next campaign awaits!



Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Reigning Phoenix Music
Websites: powerpaladin.is | facebook.com/powerpaladinice
Releases Worldwide: March 27th, 2026

When it comes to the vast pantheons of mythological figures, Aeon Gods is clearly interested in the most powerful. Their 2024 debut album, King of Gods, expounded upon the mighty deities of Mesopotamia with plenty of power metal bombast. Now, less than 18 months later, this German five-piece turns their attention to ancient Egypt. Specifically, Reborn to Light orbits the sun god Re (more commonly known today as Ra). The first half recounts Re’s nightly voyage into the underworld and his battles with the giant snake Apophis, then the latter half describes Re’s disagreements with humankind, which lead to his eventual departure at the hands of an unbelieving population. Let’s examine this latest offering and weigh its worthiness.

Reborn to Light may be about a sun god, but Aeon Gods is more similar to the moon reflecting the light of many important power metal forebears. The predominant style is an anthemic blend of Gloryhammer and Sabaton. As expected, the music is big and dramatic, seeking to replicate the larger-than-life storytelling of Brothers of Metal, though with much more of a symphonic slant than folk. Aeon Gods stops just short of going full-blown symphonic power metal like Dragony, sticking closer to acts like Twilight Force or Freedom Call, which garnish with keyboards more judiciously. Organs and choirs at times recall the theatricality of Powerwolf. Pretty much all the main hallmarks of the genre are present on Reborn to Light.

Reborn To Light by Aeon Gods

Overall, Aeon Gods are blessed by their devout worship of these groups. Most immediately noticeable are the sharp, memorable choruses (charismatically delivered by Alex “Sol’Ra-tu” Hunzinger), as well as the bounteous guitar shredding (courtesy of Robert “Abzu’Kean” Altenbach and Nino “En-Atum” Helfrich). Reborn to Light embodies its concept unexpectedly well, being enhanced considerably by a lyric sheet (and a casual Wikipedia perusal about Egyptian mythology). The bulk of the record paints a vivid cycle of blazing sunrise (“Birth of Light”), tranquil twilight (“Barque of Millions (Amduat pt. I)”), a valiant battle (“Soldiers of Re (Amduat pt. III)”), and the inevitable victory of the sun (“Reborn to Light (Amduat pt. IV)”) again. In many important respects, Aeon Gods stacks up well against the genre greats.

On the other hand, this side-by-side comparison reveals a few qualities in which Aeon Gods is lacking. While Sol’Ra-tu has a solid singing voice—some listeners will appreciate that he avoids the typical shrill upper ranges—it isn’t always strong enough to carry the music on its own, particularly during the slower parts like quasi-ballad “Barque of Millions (Amduat pt. I).” The guitarists prove their mettle with their soloing during the bridges of most songs, but there are few notable leads that might have given the vocals a boost. Anja “Su’en-Chel” Hunzinger’s keyboards are more impactful, injecting a triumphant oomph to the chorus of “Reborn to Light (Amduat pt. IV)” and an awe-inspiring tone to “Blood and Sand (Re’s Dying Reign pt. II).” Finally, while Aeon Gods rejects bloat, Reborn to Light does not deviate at all from the standard pop structure, which gives each song a measure of predictability despite the variety in the compositions.

Imperfections notwithstanding, Reborn to Light is a great implementation of tried-and-true musical formulas. It’s executed very well, and should be a pleasantly familiar—albeit safe—experience for many power metal fans. I would, ideally, like to see Aeon Gods apply their abundant talents to more daring songwriting and let the guitars and keyboards share a bit more of the melodic load. Reborn to Light is a sizable step up from Aeon Gods’ debut, showing they are on a clear upward trajectory. I look forward to the day when Aeon Gods ascends to the echelons of full-fledged godhood.

Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 256 kbps mp3
Label: Scarlet Records
Websites: scarletrecords.bandcamp.com | aeongods.com | facebook.com/AEONGODS
Releases Worldwide: February 20th, 2026

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#Blabbermouth
TWILIGHT FORCE Signs With NAPALM RECORDS, Shares New Single 'Magic Of A New Dawn'

https://blabbermouth.net/news/twilight-force-signs-with-napalm-records-shares-new-single-magic-of-a-new-dawn

#TWILIGHTFORCE #NAPALMRECORDS #SignsWith #SharesNewSingle #powermetal #single #Blabbermouth #metal #music

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#BraveWords
TWILIGHT FORCE Signs With Napalm Records; New Single And Lyric Video “Magic Of A New Dawn” Available

https://bravewords.com/news/twilight-force-signs-with-napalm-records-new-single-and-lyric-video-magic-of-a-new-dawn-available/

#TWILIGHTFORCE #SignsWithNapalmRecords #NewSingleAndLyricVideo #powermetal #single #video #BraveWords #metal #music

Charting the course to 2026: reflecting on 70000tons of Metal 2025 Artist Spotlight: Twilight Force:

#TwilightForce #70000tons #70000tonsOfMetal #ArtistSpotlight

Link: https://metalinsider.net/columns/artist-spotlight/charting-the-course-to-2026-reflecting-on-70000tons-of-metal-2025-artist-spotlight-twilight-force

Terra Atlantica – Oceans Review

By Kenstrosity

I had almost forgotten about German four-banger Terra Atlantica since I last covered them five years ago. Once my memory refreshed, I recalled what compelled me to snag Age of Steam in the first place: my love for steampunk. Far from the most dedicated—and perhaps even farther away from the best—piece of media based on that universe, Terra Atlantica nonetheless did sound appropriately grounded in a world propelled by superheated water. But their songwriting was too inconsistent to make a big splash with this sponge. With follow-up Oceans in tow, is their hope that Terra Atlantica will hoist my sails properly this time?

With a new lead guitarist, Terra Atlantica finds themselves armed with a more folk-driven base that sends their sea-faring stories even further into open water than ever before. Veering into jaunty pirate metal territory, Oceans boasts a wide variety of baubles and decorative deviations scattered around their cookie-cutter power metal foundation. Terra Atlantica’s unusually reedy vocals carry over from the last record, evoking a certain Muppet-y personality that I don’t hate, but which many could. Canned strings and horns make a resurgence as well, pushing Oceans deeper into symphonic territory. In short, Oceans is as cheesy a power metal record as can be without being Fellowship, only without even half the songwriting acumen.

In fact, songwriting is Oceans’ greatest downfall. Numbers that could’ve been great on their own merit find themselves stranded by downright infuriating choices. The greatest offenders are “Hoist the Sail,” ruined almost immediately once Terra Atlantica cribs the legendary “The Rake Hornpipe” for an overlong bridge and solo; and overblown closer “Oceans of Eternity,” which once again copies and pastes more than one segment from a piece of well-known classical music1 to pad its runtime without doing anything meaningful with them. Outside of those rage-inducing moments, though, there’s still very little substance to Oceans. Due to its dogged reliance on basic genre building blocks and banal lyrics, Oceans is effectively wall-to-wall tropes and fairytale pirate stereotypes (“Back to the Sea,” “Where My Brothers Await,” “Land of Submarines”).

Indeed, Oceans reminds me of a metallized The Muppet Treasure Island soundtrack, minus that masterpiece’s compositional excellence. Nonetheless, flashes of brilliance give me some hope that Terra Atlantica have the potential to write showstoppers worthy of positive comparisons to that iconic OST. “Raven in the Dark,” for example, might be the album’s strongest whole song, pumping a stadium-ready melody and boasting a sticky chorus and fun hair-metal solo. “Caribbean Shores,” too, maximizes its fun factor with a novel bit of tropical songwriting not often heard in power metal, unless you are Twilight Force. Additionally, I do appreciate the injection of real heft and a vaguely thrashy personality in “Turn of the Tide.” If these novelties and convincing attributes were integrated more successfully into a greater portion of Ocean’s runtime, the record would feel quite a bit different than what metal fans have been taught to expect from the symphonic power scene.

Unfortunately, Terra Atlantica only reinforce what metal fans learned to dread. To wit, a dearth of musical creativity in relation to material density, an overt abuse of classical standbys in the place of what should be original material (or at least a creative use of reference), and clear and present stereotyping in writing, theme, and lyrical content. What little hints of potential Terra Atlantica leave for listeners across Oceans’ relatively tight 49 minutes do not make up for the burden of uninspiring, sometimes outright annoying, material offered. Steer clear of this if you know what’s good for you, lads!

Rating: Bad
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Scarlet Records
Websites: terra-atlantica.de | facebook.com/terraatlantica
Releases Worldwide: September 26th, 2025

#15 #2025 #Fellowship #FolkMetal #GermanMetal #Mozart #Oceans #PirateMetal #PowerMetal #Review #Reviews #ScarletRecords #Sep25 #SymphonicMetal #TerraAtlantica #TwilightForce

Record(s) o’ the Month – July 2025

By Angry Metal Guy

In this mad dash towards relevance and timeliness, it can be tough to come up with things to say that don’t feel a little cliché. But the reality is that this whole path has been leading here. I had hoped to have a really special surprise ready for this day, but alas, I have pulled a classic Attention Deficit Disorder Guy move, filling my schedule up with stuff that hits me right in the dopamine. I’ve got reviews to write, n00bs to torture, and I have a fancy new vacuum cleaner that both vacuums and mops, so my apartment is as clean as it has ever been. I watched that K-pop Demon Hunters movie, and listened to this incredible vocal cover of it from the singer of Twilight Force way too many times. I got a crash course in super cheesy Latin ballads since the 1980s. I wrote a long-ass post about Why Spotify Sucks n’ Shit and then fought with everyone in the comments for days. I am an unregulated, but surprisingly productive, bench.1 So, sans surprise, I am soldiering on to bring you the Record(s) o’ the Month for July 2025, as close as I’ve been to on time all year. Incidentally, the Record o’ the Month matches my messy bench energy pretty much perfectly.

I told you that Calva Louise’s most recent opus—entitled Edge of the Abyss [Bandcamp] and out July 11th, 2025, from Mascot Records—was going to be my most controversial Record o’ the Month since Our Oceans.2 I don’t think it should be, of course. I think it should be appreciated for the fascinating blend of genres that it represents, as well as the talent—and sheer drive—of a band that truly has dragged itself through the dregs of a dying music industry with an incredible DIY ethic to produce a kick ass record with a gorgeous and powerful blend of ideas. Edge of the Abyss is an act of becoming, a sketch, a step towards finally getting one’s vision down on paper, tape, or film. It’s adventurous, thoughtful, beautiful, and diverse—an invigorating assemblage of ideas ranging from groovecore to Viennese classical to música llanera, spanning the globe and decades for inspiration. It’s music that is truly progressive, if not overly technical. But setting that aside, Edge of the Abyss just works. The fragments have a cinematic feel that the band carries through to its visual profile, with strong songwriting and a cinematic universe that they have been trying to bring into being for four albums. As an overly excited Me Myself gushed to anyone who would listen: “Some records sound big, and some records feel big. Edge of the Abyss does both. It feels big because it has ideas, and it succeeds because it commits to those ideas with zero regard for genre gatekeeping or scene politics. It’s weird, catchy, and gleefully sophisticated, with every song bringing something unique to the table. Every idea and every arrangement counts. It’s a banger parade,” and it’s a promise that there’s so much more to come.

A special note: Calva Louise will be going on their first headlining tour of the US this September [find dates and tickets]. Go see them and tell them that Angry Metal Guy sent you.

Runner(s) Up:

Sarastus // Agony Eternal [July 1st, 2025 | Dominance of Darkness Records | Bandcamp] — One of the best things about being Angry Metal Guy is being able to ask people during arguments which of us has “the eponymous website that hundreds of thousands of people visit monthly.” A close second is discovering shit that no one has heard of and throwing it into the chat, all “Oh, Grier, you need to check out Sarastus! Great black metal without the label atmospheric anywhere near it!” Because I knew from the word go that Agony Eternal was something special and whatever It is, Sarastus has It in spades.3 There’s a specific vibe here that reminds me not just of the sound of late-90s/early-00s melodic black metal, but the feel—hungry, heavy, and addictive. Sarastus doesn’t lean away from attack, but neither do these Finns just blanket the world in blast beats; they find strength in diversity and slick songwriting. Agony Eternal is the kind of record that reminds you of why black metal was such a vital gateway to extreme metal once upon a time. Fast, heavy, extreme, and melodic, it evokes the exact feeling that I need from my black metal: Agony Eternal. And I wasn’t alone, an excited, nimble-fingered Kenfrenstrosity swiped Sarastus from both Myself and Grier, and then rode that hype machine over the cliff like a Once and Future King: “Agony Eternal is a nonstop party. With almost poppy energy, Sarastus captured with remarkable simplicity and undeniable effectiveness the passion and conviction that made black metal of this kind a sensation. But I hear more than just black metal purism. I hear a confident, exuberant soul rooted in rock n’ roll rebellion, forged in timeless techniques, and steeped in metallic traditions across the spectrum.” Sarastus, Life of the Party!

Impureza // Alcázares [July 11th, 2025 | Season of Mist | Bandcamp] — When it comes to inventive ways to make your death metal cooler, Impureza has one of my favorites. The blending of flamenco—one of the world’s coolest non-metal styles of music—and death metal is a hard row to hoe, but somehow these French death metallers have gotten the balance right. This wasn’t always the case, but Alcázares is the perfect refinement of what was already a pretty well-developed idea. What’s fun is that Impureza has started taking on an almost melodic death feel at times, reminiscent of Æeternam at their best.4 But there’s a brutality evocative of the era in death metal history when Black Seeds of Vengeance was considered to be the peak of death metal evolution. And at this point, I’m just fucking here for all of it. In My Frothy Excitement, I sandblasted the Internet with words: “Alcázares is Impureza at their most ambitious: historically immersed, sonically expansive, blasphemous, and super into alternative histories of colonialism.5 Alcázares is a violent, poetic invocation of Spain’s medieval imagination, and it sports an enchanting vibe that recalls some of the best records I own. Seven years of development resulted in a record full of tight riffs, beautiful guitar work, intense compositions, and somehow a Necromancer. I would say that I hope to see something from them soon, but I’m happy to wait another seven years for another record of this quality.” Enjoy ov Orphaned-Land-Sized Breaks between Albums. I’ll be ready for you to blow my mind again in 2032.

Phantom Spell // Heather & Hearth [July 18th, 2025 | Cruz del Sur Music | Bandcamp] — Phantom Spell was a real surprise for me. Sometimes you go into a record knowing you like the band. But Phantom Spell, I wouldn’t have looked twice at it if I hadn’t just clicked play on the promo. And man, it’s risky having a 12-minute track as the opener for your album. But that’s the kind of risk that Kyle McNeill takes and, honestly, it paid off. I knew Heather & Hearth was going to be quality when I bobbed my head through the whole 11 minutes and 51 seconds of “The Autumn Citadel,” only to look up and realize it was 11 minutes and 51 seconds long. And that’s the trick with Heather & Hearth; it catches you off guard. Whether it’s the organ tones stolen directly from The Snow Goose, the guitar solos that taste like shag carpet, or the vocal harmonies that make Mikael Åkerfeldt jelly, everything works to perfection while sounding great. Rather than feeling like nostalgiacore, Phantom Spell feels authentic, powerful, and is a truly addictive listen. As I babbled as loudly as anyone would allow me: “This is a great record, and the only thing left for Heather & Hearth to prove is that it has staying power. From the opening ‘bew bew bews’ of the organs, to the *insert nature sounds here* that close the album out, Heather & Hearth is a triumphant exploration of songwriting from a different time. Phantom Spell makes me genuinely long for a time when it would have been impossible for Phantom Spell—a solo project—to exist. And that’s an amazing success.”

#2025 #AgonyEternal #Alcázares #BlogPost #CalvaLouise #EdgeOfTheAbyss #Gazpacho #HeatherHearth #Impureza #Jul25 #MascotRecords #MúsicaLlanera #PhantomSpell #Sarastus #TwilightForce

The 7th Guild – Triumviro Review

By Kenstrosity

To compare your band to The Three Tenors is a bold move, to say the least. By making this connection, you inherently pit yourself against three of the greatest opera singers of their time (at the very least three of the most well-known). Yet, this is exactly how SkeleToon‘s Tomi Fooler describes his freshly minted supergroup, The 7th Guild, in anticipation of their debut full-length Triumviro. Boasting his own voice in tandem with Giacomo Voli (Rhapsody of Fire) and Ivan Giannini (Vision Divine, Derdian), Tomi’s latest project attempts a symphonic power metal triple threat of the same legendary caliber as the aforementioned Tenors. It takes gumption to attempt that feat. Can The 7th Guild win over the Kendom?

The short answer is no. With nothing substantial to distinguish this project from the pool of power from which it draws deep, Triumviro proffers a particularly earnest and passionate form of overblown, hyper-melodic symphocheese. Positivity and bleeding heart melodramatics abound, surrounded by a blunderbuss of horns, keys, strings, and a too-thin layer of guitars hell-bent on proselytizing the virtues of the power chord. Unlike equally opulent acts like Twilight Force and Fellowship, The 7th Guild epitomizes the generic at every stage, so much so that at times, it is difficult even to distinguish any of the three vocalists from each other (save for one member who possesses an especially nasal, though not altogether unpleasant, tone). Nonetheless, it’s a formula that works and has worked for decades, which means that despite myself, Triumviro thrust a few of its best moments deep in my brain.

The 7th Guild are at their best when singing in their native Italian. Lush as the most richly layered Fleshgod Apocalypse magnum opus, “La Promessa Cremisi” revels in decadent vocal layers, a million heavily rolled ‘r’s, cinematic orchestrations, and a sky-high soaring chorus riding on the rippling back muscles of a classic power metal gallop. Insertions of Italian scattered throughout the excessive “Glorious” help offset its cringe-inducing, but sticky “YOU’RE MAKIN’ ME GLOOOOOOOOOORRRRIIOOOOUS” refrain. “In Nomine Patris” exudes regality in its fanfare, marching forth with an operatic pre-chorus followed immediately by a triumphant chorus that would be right at home on any Twilight Force epic. As if this wasn’t enough, a delightful high-octane guitar solo launches the final third in dramatic fashion, giving the final chorus the momentum it needed to justify its inclusion in the song’s six-plus-minute span. It is moments like these, among a few others spotting this forty-eight-minute runtime, that make Triumviro enjoyable and fun, at least for a moment.

Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of Triumviro’s successes are ephemeral, too easily overshadowed by lackluster power metal sullied further by saccharine writing and unchecked vocal exhibitions. Ballad “Time” is delicate and fluffy, but having three singers of functionally identical tone and range wailing in concert with the soaring lead guitar flattens the entire piece to the point of collapse. A total lack of tonal and textural depth persists throughout the back half of the record, continually fumbling moves that could’ve made a lasting impression. “Guardians of Eternity” borders on annoying, its vocal layering creating cacophony as one singer chooses to hold notes longer than the rest at arbitrary points, while another comes in a fraction too late to line up properly in the arrangement. Later on, one of the vocalists makes an unhinged choice attempting an operatic run in the style of Tarja Turunen. Not only does this moment clash against already tepid songwriting with its poor execution, but it also illustrates the competitive, rather than cooperative, nature of The 7th Guild’s vocal performances. Furthermore, this egregious showboating behavior puts a spotlight on the oversimplified, underutilized metallic instrumentation in the background, as demonstrated by the overwrought “The Metal Charade.” Closer “Fairy Tale” doesn’t fare much better as the over-performed, nasal balladry dominates the soundscape with questionable choices and strained reaches, all in the name of bombast.

The most damning aspect of The 7th Guild’s troubled debut is the impression it leaves with this listener. After the dust settles and I lay Triumviro to rest, I breathe a heavy sigh of relief. Its first five songs aren’t that bad, and two of those are arguably good. But even those can’t escape the problems pervading the entire record. Moreover, its second half is a clinic on what not to do, from writing to performance, on a symphonic power metal record. In short, right now The 7th Guild are closer to The Three Tricksters than The Three Tenors.

Rating: Bad
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 160 kbps mp3
Label: Scarlet Records
Website: facebook.com/the7thguild
Releases Worldwide: February 21st, 2025

#15 #2025 #Derdian #Feb25 #Fellowship #ItalianMetalMetal #PowerMetal #Review #Reviews #RhapsodyOfFire #ScarletRecords #Skeletoon #SymphonicMetal #The7thGuild #TheThreeTenors #Triumviro #TwilightForce #VisionDivine

Dragonknight – Legions Review

By Eldritch Elitist

A not-insignificant number of my favorite power metal acts are “noun noun” bands. Power Quest. Twilight Force. Fellow Ship. There’s something about smashing two overwrought people, places, and/or things together that perfectly fits power metal’s prerequisite for excess, and Dragonknight is one of my favorite band names to come out of the genre in recent memory. I’m a little less enthused that their identities are hidden behind their confusingly uniform, copy-paste Slipknot masks1, but between their ludicrously opulent logo and Legions’ hilariously literal cover art, Dragonknight is one of the more immediately striking power metal acts to debut on Scarlet Records. Of course, with Frozen Crown and Fellowship being alums from the same label, the bar is set in the stratosphere; as Legions shows, that bar is not easily reached.

Explaining what DragonKnight sounds like would be markedly less expeditious than describing who they sound like, as Legions sees the band feasting upon a veritable buffet of inspirations. A bespoke influence seemingly accompanies each track; Gloryhammer (“Dead Kings in the Grave”), Beast in Black (“Sword of the Northern Lights”), and mercifully not Alestorm but rather Running Wild (“Pirates, Bloody Pirates!”) serve as some of Legions’ more obvious sources of inspiration. While DragonKnight’s aesthetic varies widely across this album, it’s all tied together with an overarching symphonic flair that keeps the proceedings from sounding overly disjointed. Moreover, Legions sounds technically competent and professional, traits which should be a given but are too often scarce in the genre. For many power metal fans, the level of execution alone may be satisfying.

Dragonknight may presently be more concerned with emulating the successes of modern power metal than innovating the game. Still, I also get the sense that the band had a ton of fun making Legions, so it manages not to tip my cynicism meter to the red. I do, however, find myself increasingly annoyed with this album for a potentially more damning reason: It’s just kinda bland. There are certainly highlights between “The Imperator”‘s Dream Evil-goes-symphonic march and “The Revelation2“‘s condensed galloping rush, but much of Legions lacks urgency and excitement. Instrumental flair is absent outside of the frequently excellent guitar solos, and while the melodies are generally pleasant, Dragonknight fails to capitalize on their solid foundation with the giant melodic swings that define the genre. Legions isn’t forgettable, per se, but it fails to make an impression where it matters most.

Legions hits me with all the force of a lukewarm bucket of water at least in part due to its production choices. The album sounds quite nice from a technical perspective, carrying a meatier low-end presence than most power metal records allow which effectively balances the symphonic bombast. The instruments themselves, however, lack tonal character, their generic metallic edge failing to cut through the swaths of synths. Singer and sole named member Lord Salo Khan (Mikael Salo, Everfrost3) also lacks power in many scenarios, with his voice failing to deliver a convincing presence of power in Legions’ most melodic tracks, namely “Storm Bringer.” At other times, however, he excels; the conviction with which he delivers the lyric “Sailing ships with great dexterity!” goes a long way in making “Pirates Bloody Pirates!” another early highlight of Dragonknight’s career.

I reference Dragonknight in context with a hypothetical future as it’s one that I hope comes to fruition. Their debut left me with a stronger first impression than this review and its score implies, but I ultimately found Legions lacking in staying power, my mind struggling not to wander towards the dozens of better records it reminds me of as I ventured past my first couple of spins. Dragonknight has the talent and songwriting chops to excel on future outings, but they need to work on identifying and honing their strengths rather than spreading themselves thin with an overly ambitious scope. If Dragonknight can succeed in this regard, they may well find themselves on equal footing with their peers. As it stands today, they are a decent imitation of their influences, but sincere flattery can only carry them so far.

Rating: 2.5/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 256 kbps mp3
Label: Scarlet Records
Websites: scarletrecords.bandcamp.com/album/legions | dragonknightband.com | facebook.com/dragonknightband
Releases Worldwide: January 17th, 2025

#25 #2025 #Alestorm #BeastInBlack #Dragonknight #DreamEvil #Everfrost #Fellowship #FinnishMetal #FrozenCrown #Galneryus #Gloryhammer #Jan25 #Legions #PowerMetal #PowerQuest #Review #Reviews #RunningWild #ScarletRecords #Slipknot #TwilightForce