• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

It's almost rare to hear a pure Power Metal band these days. It seems like the heyday of the style has passed and now we have endless hybrids and symphonic/gothic/black/whatever types of bands, even as the big names of the style have mutated almost beyond recognition. So this, a short album by Finnish newcomers Averlanche, sounds so old-fashioned it is completely refreshing.

Not to say that this band is coasting on some kind of retro-nostalgia for 20 years ago. No, Averlanche have remembered that above and beyond anything else, Power Metal has to have sweet, singable, catchy melodies, and they have a real knack for that. This is very light, melodic music with airy female vocals and a good amount of keys in the mix, but it succeeds by having a lot of really bright, sharp hooks and a ton of personality. Vocalist Rebecca Sporl is not a wielder of operatic force, but rather a sweet, agile instrument that deftly weaves around these lively tunes.

Overall Averlanche present a really strong debut that flashes a lot of potential. If you miss the guileless simplicity of classic European Power Metal, then this is a little gem.