Debut from heretofore unknown Icelandic sextet (dual guitars + keyboards), doing their best to channel Euro power metal legends. The fact they're one of the first new signees to Atomic Fire (label started by veteran Nuclear Blast employees, including ex-founder/prez Markus Staiger) speaks volumes.

No intro, just jumping right into the deep end of the pool, with speed and high pitched vocals, for 'Kraven The Hunter'. As this infectious ear worm progresses, the voice gets higher, squealing into falsetto (for emphasis) come the pre-chorus. A few mandolin riff greet 'Righteous Fury', which quickly gives way to double bass drums and speeding guitars, living up to that appellation. From there, it's a piano and symphonic strings introduced 'Evermore', quickly dispensing with the festive packaging and bounding on a trademark power metal bounce. Here, the bass player gets a opportunity to unleash his rumble, beneath the soaring vocal highs. In the spirit of Rhapsody, there's a brief spoken word narration/voice-over too.
Between tracks, there are sound effects snippets, opening dungeon door, church bell, squishing walk through mud, etc. The next selection is rather dichotomous. Apart from the anthemic chorus, 'Dark Crystal' tears. It's closer to thrash than most power metal and as such, in the vein of early Blind Guardian, before the keyboards (keytar?) takes over. Shame the darker, heavy picking on 'Way Of Kings' is overtaken too soon. Great headbanging riff! 'Ride The Distant Storm' offers a bit of keyboard/guitar trade-off/soloing within its melodic upbeat structure. Sustained closing falsetto scream. Not a fan of the newer, so-called power metal outfits, like Gloryhammer or Twilight Force, so it's probably the cumulative effect (like an eventual cavity from a diet of sweets) but stratospheric saccharine of "Creatures Of The Night" is too much to take, for an old-school fan like myself. Got to be about good songs, hooks or riffs, not just fast paced and high pitched. So don't even get me started on the dog whistle finale, 'There Can Only be One'. At least it's "hidden" at the tail end of the running order.
No, it's not revolutionary, but a fun, new face in the metallic universe. Embrace!