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There isn't a ton of info available on Viking Queen, apparently a new band out of Norway. Their new (debut?) album is called Hammer of the Gods and is full of Viking-themed songs delivered with powerful, clean female vocals that echo back to great singers like Leather Leone and even Grace Slick. Musically, the songs tend to be mid-paced or slower, brushing the edges of doom on songs like "Trail of a Viking" and "Hammer of the Gods", but anthems like "Empire of Death" and "Warriors Last Stand" are the album's bread and butter. The vocals are what give Viking Queen their biggest hook as the singer bleeds charisma as she owns the microphone. There's definitely an old-school vibe to the songwriting, with a modern production, and you can hear the influences of bands from Candlemass and Manilla Road to '70s Scorpions. That said, Viking Queen blend metal with just a little hard rock to create a sound that is refreshingly not like a million other bands. If you want some punchy, pounding metal that is not the same old, same old, this is one to check out.