Following on from ‘Steel’, Battle Beast are Finland’s underrated sons and daughters in the metal world. Their music is both vibrant and easily digestible whilst maintaining and receiving a genuine level of respect and metal credentials. A big change features on this new album, Nitte Valo is no more on vocals, so in steps Noora Louhimo who is a formidable force of nature. The band still sound like Accept, it’s very uncanny in places and like what that band did with ‘Metal Heart’, the self-titled follow up to ‘Steel’ is a step in a similar direction. There is a big push for a bigger sound, less bombastic, more to the point and in some quarters the sound is a bit more accessible, especially the drums which at times sound very simple but to the point. Pumping your fist to the air is rather easy with numbers like ‘’Neuromancer’ and the kick in the ass opener ‘Let It Roar’ and this continues throughout the album.
Thirteen tracks in total and there is not one that I would consider below par, all are full of energy and have the ability to keep you hooked beyond belief. ‘Into the Heart of Danger’ draws some vocal tones to Mark Slaughter, that gnarly rasp that he is famous for exists on certain sections, in the vocal phrasing more than anything rather than the musical style. ‘Fight Kill Die’ is one of the albums gems, it’s fast, heavy, furious and a real metal monster. It’s quite hard in this day and age with all musicians raising their games album after album to genuinely find something that stands out and something that has the ability to stand the test of time. I believe this album to be one of these. This is classic heavy metal done with panache or rather an elegance that has the potential to bring a whole new swarm of fans to the band. Festival appearances will no doubt improve their popularity, although I would love them to come to these shores, just once.
The musical experience and deliverance from Battle Beast is something you hear in a classic metal album, an album you will always turn to, and give it large every once in a while. This is a comforting friend, a companion you can rely upon, this is an album that should see this Finnish band break through, the talent is here, ‘Battle Beast’ is simply amazing for lovers of traditional metal and will guarantee a pumped up listening experience.
(9/10 Paul Maddison)
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