• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

I haven't heard happy power metal like this in a long time. Italy's Airborn is a band I ran across many years ago with their D-Generation album, a release that didn't do much for me, frankly. Their fifth album, Lizard Secrets: Part One - Land of the Living is another story.

Airborn hits the power metal tropes hard with lots of catchy choruses, double-kick drumming and fantasy/sci-fi lyrics. The songwriting is a cut above for the most part and "Who We Are", "Brace for Impact" and the re-recorded "Cosmic Rebels" (originally on D-Generation) are the kind of songs where you start anticipating the second refrain of the chorus after hearing it the first time around. There are just enough keyboard frills to give Lizard Secrets that sugary power metal sheen but, as a whole, Airborn are crunchier, more like their German counterparts.

This is a fine release and a safe bet for fans into both early Mob Rules and Gamma Ray but also Heavenly and Freedom Call.