(Symphonic Power Metal) [CD] Bane Of Winterstorm - The Last Sons Of Perylin - 2013, WavPack (image+.cue), lossless

Epic fantasy metal seems to be a big theme this year doesn’t it? We have EVERTALE’s “Of Dragons and Elves”, CALADAN BROOD “Echoes of Battle” and RHAPSDOY OF FIRE’s “Dark Wings of Steel”. Last but not least we have the album I’ve been most excited about since they released a single back in the beginning of Summer. BANE OF WINTERSORM’s single “The Magic of Mithren’s Ring” really turned some heads with it’s high fantasy power metal very reminiscent of DRAGONLAND’s “Under the Grey Banner” and it even features some guest vocals from Dragonland’s lead singer Jonas Heidgart so for DRAGONLAND fans this album already sounded like gold.

The biggest “controversy” surrounding this is the number of songs and the length of them, it’s not often you see a band make an album 5 songs long yet only 49 minutes; some people are immediately annoyed by this probably remembering WINTERSUN’s “Time 1” which had 5 songs and only ended up at 40 minutes. For me this album feels to be a perfect length, while I like longer albums sometimes it plays against an album, like EVERTALE’s “Of Dragons and Elves” for example which is way longer than necessary. The songs all hold up well under scrutiny, rather than starting off with the usual 1-3 minute instrumental often orchestral intro track this album hits you hard and fast right from the start with the epic and majestic “Black Winds of Morthion”. I like that about this, I feel like this tries to break some stereotypes surrounding this type of music and rather than focusing on all the orchestral build-up and climaxes it just constantly keeps you headbanging. Not that it doesn’t have those climaxes, just not as many as you usually find which makes them more effective when they do happen. My favorite part of this album to mention is the vocal melodies, they're powerful and epic and they really draw you into the music. My favorite song is probably “The Magic of Mithren’s Ring” with an absolutely majestic chorus and lyrics that conjure up images of vast plains of warriors battling and medieval castles glistening in the sunlight; not since DRAGONLAND’s "Under the Grey Banner" have I heard an album that just really draws you in and paints a great mental landscape, it truly is an amazing song. The ending epic/title track also deserves mention, it’s a great climax and a perfect ending to this album with another excellent soaring chorus.

All five of the songs on this really are great, pretty good lyricism, fantastic imagery and fast headbanging power metal of the finest variety, there’s only one problem. Seriously, only one small flaw holds this album back from being perfect. As this is a concept album there’s a “vocalist” who is supposed to be the main bad guy, the problem is that he sounds like he belongs in a hardcore band, seriously he tries to sound harsh, but it really just sounds like he’s shouting into the microphone and you really can't understand what he’s saying at all, otherwise the vocals are actually really, really good, but that antagonist is just so bad and it’s really hard to ignore. Don't let that deter you from this album, this is easily one of the best albums to come out this year and certainly the best power metal album (well STRATOVARIUS might have something to say about that), this is something to be heard right now and listened to on repeat because this album is amazing.

(Online November 23, 2013)