(Melodic Power Metal / Symphonic Metal) Power Quest - Blood Alliance - 2011, MP3 (tracks), 320 kbps

You could be forgiven for previously steering clear of this band. Their heavily keyboard-driven melodic Power Metal certainly wasn't everyone's cup of tea - but fans would tell you that these guys are horribly under-appreciated in the Power Metal world. Blood Alliance is a bold attempt to bridge the gap between these two groups.

Power Quest has gone through a radical shakeup over the past few years since Master of Illusion, emerging with five new members, with only one - founding member & keyboardist Steve Williams - remaining. The new lineup:
- Chitral "Chity" Somapala (Vocals)
- Steve Williams (Keys)
- Andy Midgley (Guitars)
- Gavin Owen (Guitars)
- Paul Finnie (Bass)
- Rich Smith (Drums)

Perhaps the most interesting change to their lineup lies with ex-Firewind singer "Chity" Somapala. Gone are the very high-pitched vocals of previous singer Garavello, and in their place are lower, smooth vocals which fit nicely with the band's new style.
"New Style?" I hear you cry. As announced prior to the album's release, Power Qust have taken what was perhaps their trademark style of very melodic tracks and catchy choruses and placed it in the heart of new material with heavier guitar work and influences from the 80s (Better Days or Glorious are perhaps good examples of this). This blend works fantastically and is a refreshing change from their previous work. But a fair warning - they're still quite keyboard-driven and the album still contains Power Metal cheese - which could unfortunately act as a barrier between people and their wallet if they wanted to pick this up and try it out.
The album opens with 2 minutes of guitar-shredding, kept surprisingly interesting throughout, before the first 'real' track kicks in, Rising Anew, blasting your ears with the gusto and enthusiasm typical of the band's playing, and later on, the choruses that will yet again haunt your brain and be the things you hum whilst otherwise unoccupied for some time.
Continuing in the same vein, your ears will be kept very pleased for half an hour or so, then you'll hit Crunching the Numbers. After a curious - if strangely compelling - intro the track gives you heavier guitar work and even some Jorn Lande-esque cries later on in the track. The lyrics are perhaps less abstract than is typical, discussing (as you may have guessed) the "Credit Crunch" and recent financial crisis. A devisive track maybe, but it's one I certainly enjoyed immensely. The title track, whilst clocking in at just over nine minutes, seems to shoot by and is certainly kept fun for its duration.
If I had to note a concern about this album, it would be simply that one or two of the tracks may pale into mediocrity with too many repeated listens and over time, with similar styles and generally "standard" lyrics, such as Sacrifice ("Sacrifice my life, to be with you tonight"). The rest of them, however, are just as catchy as those displayed on previous albums.
Power Quest's new lineup has hailed a truly excellent album which breaks out of their previous mold (and hopefully out of previous comparisons to DragonForce which have plagued them), producing music which retains enough of their old styles and enough of the new to keep their fans happy as ever and hopefully draw some new listeners into their style. If you've found Power Quest simply too cheese-filled before, now would be an excellent time to sample them again and see if Power Quest Mark II is to your taste.
Review written by SomethingSimilar for www.sputnikmusic.com
U.K-based metallers POWER QUEST have completed work on their new album, "Blood Alliance", at Foel Studios (PAUL RODGERS, NAPALM DEATH, THE WILDHEARTS) in Wales next for a late March European release via Napalm Records (early April in the U.S. and January 19 in Japan through Marquee/Avalon). Eleven songs were laid down for the follow-up to 2008's "Master Of Illusion", including one bonus track. The CD cover artwork was once again designed by Felipe Machado (BLIND GUARDIAN, SILENT FORCE) and can be viewed below.
Commented keyboardist Steve Williams: "Well, it has been a long time coming but finally the fifth POWER QUEST album is done and I don't think I have ever been so excited about releasing an album. All the guys have given 110% to this record and I'm proud of them all. It's without doubt the heaviest POWER QUEST album yet but without sacrificing the POWER QUEST melodic tradition. I just can't wait for you all to hear it!" http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=151632
Die Britischen Metaller POWER QUEST haben die Aufnahmen ihres neuen Albums "Blood Alliance" in den Foel Studios (Paul Rodgers, Napalm Death, The Wildhearts) in Wales abgeschlossen. In den Handel soll "Blood Alliance" im Marz 2011 via Napalm Records kommen.
POWER QUEST Mainman und Keyboarder Steve Williams sagte: "Big thanks to Chris Fielding and Dave Anderson for all their hard work over the month we spent [at Foel]. We worked 14 hours per day most days and everyone was pretty much destroyed by the end of the session but we are all extremely pleased with the results!
"Mixing was due to commence at Remaster Studio in Vicenza on November 2nd. Nick Savio, who mixed 'Master Of Illusion', [is] again in the hot seat for this. However, the recent flooding disaster in Vicenza also affected the studio and this means that there will be now be a 3-4 week delay while the studio is re-floored and re-wired.

"Release dates are currently being discussed with Napalm and everything is on course for a March 2011 release. Felipe Machado has completed another awesome job with the artwork and booklet and Dijana Capan has provided us with some excellent photos for the booklet and the promotional campaign." http://powermetal4ever.de/News/index-6.htm
http://www.nuclearblast.de/en/products/tontraeger/cd/cd/power-quest-blood-alliance.html
http://hardrockhaven.net/online/2010/power-quest-reveals-track-list-of-blood-alliance/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_Alliance

Vocals — Chitral "Chity" Somapala (2010-) (Red Circuit, Court Jester (Deu), Ivanhoe (Deu), Avalon (Deu), Domain (Deu), Firewind, Powerworld, Moonlight Agony, David Shankle Group, Civilization One)
Guitar — Andy Midgley (2009-) (Liquid Sky)
Guitar — Gav Owen (2010-) (Triaxis)
Keyboards — Steve Williams (2001-) (DragonHeart (UK), David Shankle Group)
Bass — Paul Finnie (2009-) (Wake (Gbr), The Maslin Incident)
Drums — Rich Smith (2009-) (Cruel Humanity, Aphemia)
Приглашенные:
Additional backing vocals — Nick Workman