Air Raid return with a fresh singer compared to the line-up I witnessed live in Germany at the Keep It True Festival last year. ‘Point of Impact’ is their third full length release and is slightly more melodic than previous efforts. Following the first two songs, the albums settles in nicely, although you have been introduced to new singer Arthur Andersson with the opening tune ‘Bound to Destroy’ with a massive power scream part way through the track. As the album developed, it sounds as if he is more at home with the songs becoming more catchy and memorable.
Traditional metal arrangements akin to the usual Priest and Maiden suspects are in plentiful supply, but I do also agree with the PR material that states we should look to Chastain and Riot for some influence, this is very much true. ‘Madness’ has an infectious chorus and ‘Victim of the Night’ is one of those tunes that lives and breathes and reminds me very much of the music I was listening to in the 80’s, the acoustic start could be a few bars longer, but it does the job very nicely. The instrumental ‘Flying Fortress’ is Air Raid’s ‘Losfer Words (Big ‘Orra)’ which sites nicely in tune to the galloping style of Maiden’s ‘Powerslave’ album and ‘We Got the Force’ closes the album perfectly. My only gripe is that it’s not a long release, it seems to finish just as soon as it’s begun and it’s so catchy I really want more.
Like many other Swedish bands of late, Traditional metal is flying high and in the Air Raid camp this is more than capable of living up to the hype and thankful appreciation by a younger generation, I also feel that ‘Point of Impact’ is a little more energetic that some other notable Swedish bands too, let’s see if Air Raid get the hype they truly deserve in all fairness! This is a cool catchy as hell release and a marked step forward for Air Raid. Nice one!
(8/10 Paul Maddison)
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