Wow, if this is not in the same family (literally brethren) to Manowar then I don't know what is. Just in the opening bass line intro alone its evident Ross can't avoid his past (which is fine and he probably doesn't want to). Going under his own name as a solo artist, the one-time Manowar guitarist (he played on all their classic albums: "Battle Hymns", "Into Glory Ride", "Hail To England", "Sign Of The Hammer", "Fighting The World" and "Kings Of Metal") continues crafting traditional heavy metal on this second offering.

'Kingdom Arise' (that title alone should tell you what the music sounds like), that's right, this album is all "Sign Of The Hammer"/"Hail To England" with screamin vocals (though not on the same level of power as Eric Adams), galloping beats and guitars. Oddly enough, even the production is also very similar to older 80s Manowar, the guitars are crunchy but kinda thin, the bass is not terribly thick, and the drums have very little punch. 'Hailstorm' is very New Wave Of British Heavy Metal and classically fashioned, 'Burn Alive' is very radio friendly kinda like something Lizzy Borden (even singer Patrick Fuchs at times sounds like Lizzy) or Y&T recorded in the mid-80s, and 'Crom' (yes, like from Conan The Barbarian) has (aside from lyrics like "steel", "power", "kingdom" and "glory") a slower tempo for this warrior's anthem.

Solid stuff if you're looking for that retro 80s heavy metal in sound and production.