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So I did a review of the last Soldier full-length and recall it being a good slice of modern, hard rock-infused NWOBHM/Heavy Metal. I particularly remember being impressed with Richard Frost's vocals and on the latest Soldier opus Defiant, he really owns the music with his smooth, confident performance. Of course the whole band sounds proud and energetic throughout, particularly in the ace opening number "Conquistador".

One issue I had with the last Soldier release was that is went on a little longer than I felt was really necessary. This time around they operate a tighter ship with just under 45 minutes of playing time, resulting in a more concise package. Very smooth throughout, although a little less metallic than what would normally dominate my speakers. They do kick things up a notch at times, such as in "Leaving", and a quality drum sound ensures any and all propulsive moments are given justice throughout.

I can't fault Soldier too much here, my only problem is that this isn't really my cup of tea. Like I hinted earlier there are some prevalent classic/hard rock vibes across the board, and it's not really something I'd listen to outside of writing. Nonetheless, this is energetic, confident, well-performed, and identifiably good. It's always nice to hear a veteran band doing it well, and if you're a Soldier fan I think you'll get a decent amount of mileage here. Certainly worth a listen!