Power Metal. Mocked by many, revered by some – but what exactly is it? For me it has encompassed so many bands that the actual genre is HUGE. In the 80’s it included acts as diverse as Running Wild, Savatage, Manowar, Helloween and Crimson Glory. By the late 90’s Stratovarius, Rhapsody, Nevermore and Hammerfall all adopted the tag in various forms. After the Millennium it’s included acts as dissimilar as Kamelot, Evergrey, Lullacry, Edguy and countless others. This is because it now has many sub-genres that use or drop the ‘power metal’ tag as suits, but basically Power Metal can be prefixed by Progressive, Speed, Technical, Extreme, Dark, Heavy, True, Symphonic, Melodic and more. I really would like to put this info at the start of any review that involves the term Power Metal, just to show how diverse the genre is and where I’m personally coming from.
But I can’t, so the reason I have chosen to put it at the start of a review for Bloodbound’s latest release “Stormborn” is because Bloodbound are probably what many Metal fans think of when you say Power Metal. On the surface it’s Power Metal in the Hammerfall/Sabaton vein – structured, riffy, catchy, has plenty of double-kick drums, a competent three-octave range singer and lyrics that centre mainly around ancient battles, drinking and Metal. It is the easy target for cynical people who like other forms of Metal – easy to mock, but hard to resist when the beer is flowing and the band are kicking it out on stage in front of you. I admit to being a Power Metal fan because I am a fan of a genre that has included all of the band’s listed above, and I’m sure there is much more to Bloodbound than “let-me-see-your-fists-in-the-air” posturing. I’m determined to put my own preconceptions about their slightly cringe-worthy lyrics aside and delve further into the band’s music. But I’m not going in alone – nope, come on, you’re coming too…
You have to have a big epic intro, preferably with a bit of narration, and Bloodbound don’t disappoint, then a nice twin guitar part a-la Iron Maiden paves the way for a double-kick driven opener which mixes a Judas Priest verse with a Helloween attitude and a Scorpions style chorus. Now there’s three bands together you don’t usually see together on a Hammerfall review! There’s a damn fine guitar solo too and I have to admit that this new Bloodbound album might just have some hidden depths. Not hidden at all though are those aforementioned slightly cheesy lyrics, but it comes with the territory and many fans love the style for it – I don’t, but that’s just me, so therefore I won’t mention it again. The next track very much reminds me pleasantly of Kai Hansen fronted Helloween with a more up to date production, and the next one has all the optimism and catchiness of Freedom Call as do some of the later tracks. Gamma Ray, Sabaton, latter-day Saxon, Evidence One, Anvil, Primal Fear and Firewind all get a nod to varying degrees as the album progresses, but all wrapped up in a sound that Bloodbound make their own – and no ballads here!
This album isn’t pretending to be anything it isn’t. Bloodbound don’t claim to push boundaries and aren’t preaching to anyone who doesn’t want to listen. This is an album for old-school Metal fans and Battle weary Power Metal fans. “Stormborn” is sure to have something to interest you if you like a bit of Power Metal now and again, in whatever guise.
(7/10 Andy Barker)
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