If you enjoy grinning like an idiot while banging your head and playing all manner of air instruments then that probably means you’ve already discovered the mighty Battle Beast. Twenty years into their career, and the Finnish Power Metallers are still delivering instantly enjoyable records chock full of riff-heavy anthems designed for maximum Metal enjoyment.

Having cautiously ventured down more serious avenues on previous records, their brand of up-tempo, high-octane, euphoric Eurometal is well and truly back on seventh album, Steelbound (Nuclear Blast Records). Guitarists Juuso Soinio and Joona Björkroth kick things off on rousing opener “The Burning Within” while everything you love about Battle Beast is present on the surging “Here We Are.” Through keyboardist Janne Björkroth, the thumping title track possesses the supercharged synth-driven eighties vibe the band create so well, while “Twilight Cabaret” is infused with an irresistible Latin American swing. One of those tracks you instantly know you’ll be back to check out when the record comes to an end. If you can wait that long.

Vocalist Noora Louhimo sounds as powerful as ever, her voice piercing with just the right amount of fry on the sturdy “Last Goodbye,” the song, like the others, driven by the rhythm section of drummer Pyry Vikki and bassist Eero Sipilä.

Cinematic interlude “The Long Road” builds towards the Rhapsody Of Fire exhilaration of “Blood Of Heroes” before single “Angel Of Midnight” hits the spot with yet another stirring, fist-pounding chorus. Synth Rock meets Celtic hooks with “Riders Of The Storm,” Louhimo’s voice as strident as the song’s surgically precise guitar solo before the album climaxes with the disco Power Metal of “Watch The Sky Fall,” yet another track which has you wondering from which well the band can keep drawing this seemingly endless supply of infernally catchy melodies.

Boasting a fierce production from the longer-serving Björkroth brother, the rhythm section serves as the band’s backbone, while the keyboards and orchestrations sound either sparkly or cinematic. The guitars can sound a little dry on their own, but when everything comes together, they work perfectly.

Another glorious explosion of memorable riffs and electrifying choruses, Steelbound absolutely insists upon you forgetting about your problems for forty minutes or so and just losing yourself in yet another whirlwind of deliciously infectious feel-good party Metal. Go on. You know you want to.

Buy the album here:
https://www.shop.battlebeast.fi

9 / 10
GARY ALCOCK
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