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Freedomination have been a going concern since 2008 anno bastardi, releasing a smattering of demos and EPs in that time without a full-length to their name until this year's Until the Lights Go Out. Guess they waited that long to be sure their first was great, because this is a killer work of metal that straddles the line between blazing speed metal and hooky, sometimes stirring traditional metal. The songs range from straight-ahead face rippers like the riffy opener "Sin Road" and the catchy, Annihilator-esque "Tear Down the Wall" to hooky, melodic, sometimes melancholic numbers like "Raven," "Second Chance," and the awesome anthemic closing title track, and they're given serious energy and distinct shape thanks to some top-notch musicianship and the muscular vocals of frontman Timo Ahlström. Timo in general is a highlight of the album, able to hit classic high-pitched screams along with having a unique style that is oozing in testosterone and fits the band like a red nose on the local drunk's face.

Plenty of bands toil with smaller releases for decades, and some of them even get a full album or two out, but it's only a few of those that actually live up to any promise they make and do something that was worth the wait, and I can safely say Freedomination are among those bands. A great album over a decade in the making.