It’s been a while since we have heard from these Finn’s. Their last album ‘Green Eyleen’ came out five years ago, with the band starting to release material way back in 2012, when I first myself first got to hear them. I was excited to hear the release, but I have to admit that their last full length was a little underwhelming in places, so I was curious.
Thankfully, the style and the infectious melodies remain. The production is a little beefier, that’s what I was mainly concerned about comparing to the last release rather than the songs I might add. So immediately ‘First Morning – Collapse’ starts riff heavy and momentous. As it turns out, the album sequence is different to the way my downloads got sorted! Vocally there’s some smooth notes attained and underneath it all, the drums are really going for it in terms of drum fills and overall sound. The solos, well, this is where Lord Fist are different to some of their contemporaries, they really rip the fretboard apart. Overall, I guess the older fan may feel a sense of similarity the Roth-era Scorpions, there is a smooth tone similar to pre-Tokyo Tapes era for that band. ‘Wings Drawn in Our Minds’ is another cool melodic riff intense start. The guitar fills between verses is nice, there is a fresh appeal as a result, ah yes, some gallops sections too and that’s the stuff for me! Perttu Koivunen is a smooth vocalist, there is control in the higher register but he prefers to stay relatively low during the album. The solos though, love them, definitely a highlight as well as the duel interplay between guitarists. Sisters’ is once again a vibrant tune with a nice time signature change mixing things up. For me of you are a fan of Dark Forest (UK), fellow countrymen Nightstryke, early-Scorpions and even Loudness in their early days, you will get to figure the world of Lord Fist. If you want way out there diversity then check out ‘Princess of the Red Flame’. There’s a lot of affinity to the German group for me, a lot comes from the guitar tone, the chords and the melodies used. The artwork is much improved this time around also.
Overall, when I have come to sit down and write up this review, I have increased my rating and love for this release. It is a kick in the ass forward for the band compared to their last release classic metal sounding but not a copycat, there’s loads of light and shade and pure guitar brilliance on offer. For a band that’s been very quiet, it’s time to be as loud as hell and shake the foundations. Lord Fist are definitely back, this is a cool release and one which many will enjoy I am sure.
(8/10 Paul Maddison)
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