If my dear children of the night might remember correctly, I used to say Power Metal was predictable. For the sake of this discussion, to be fair with a multitude of bands not all of them, but the ones that were copycats of Rhapsody or Helloween. Well, I used to be fair with the bands which were inspired by Helloween. I cannot say the same about the followers of Rhapsody. I like Helloween better, that’s the bloody truth. As Metal music is always surprising me on a daily basis, a couple of months ago I bumped into bands that I call videogame Power Metal. Kilmara with “Journey to the Sun“ were not the first, but they were the first ones that inspired to labeling them this way. I’ll elaborate. Videogame Power Metal is the sugared techno version of Power Metal where bands use a ot of electronic effects that time to time address to videogame effects. For this reason, not only this, their music is a kind of Pop Metal version of Power Metal. I mean, thie music is more palatable for non-metal fans. I will not bother to discuss what is palatable or not, but the idea is the old ‘reach wider audiences.’
Any other reviewer – except me and hardcore Power Metal fans, of course – while listening to would to first sugar “Virtual Insanity” would have given up. Too sugared, too many electronic effects and the same old, however, believe it or not. On one side of the coin, there are tracks as “Steel and Thunder” that are worthwhile for their heavyness and intense punching however the effects. The taste of an acid Abba – pardon me for the citation, please – of “Strangers To Love“ is too much for my delicate stomach and you all know I really like sugared bands like this one, however, this kind of reference is a little too much even for me. On the other side of the coin, things get a little better with the hard riffing “Beyond Horizons” whose vocals address to Rhapsody and their medieval references. Keyboards here are much better and the guitars hit hard. I would say to my hardcore followers to listen to “I Am Evil” first because it is the track that honors Power Metal traditions with flying colors. “The Veil Of Affection” is another track that pleases me with its strong flaming guitars. Album title track “Love Kills“ even though the infamous title addresses a lot to Bon Jovi – meh, I love them, okay! – which for me is a great reference.
Ok, “Love Kills” is not an album for extreme metallers, not even for heavy metallers who love the NWOBHM. It is an album for the youngbloods who are into videogame Power Metal. Maybe to symphonic metallers as well.
Induction “Love Kills” will be released on February 06th via RPM.
Track Listing:
01. Virtual Insanity
02. War Of Hearts
03. Dark Temptation
04. Steel And Thunder
05. Strangers To Love
06. Beyond Horizons
07. Gods Of Steel (Physical Exclusive Track)
08. Love Kills
09. I Am Evil
10. The Veil Of Affection
11. Empress
Watch “Love Kills” official music video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!