This time round it’s Stacey’s vocals that have really taken a hupe leap forward. On past records it was mostly her infectious commitment and enthusiasm that pulled you in, but here she’s clearly improved her vocal skills more than a few bounds. This also allows the band to go beyond the singalong metal hymns, fun though they may be, and infuse a bit more dynamics and variation into the song material, which even results in a ballad or two.

The record opens on the moody instrumental opener ‘Three Red Candles’ with some surprisingly progressive guitars after which the real call to arms is heralded in ‘Warriors Call’, consequently spurred forwards with ‘Black Rider’.  Both tracks are short, but sweet metal hymns with catchy hooks and fist pumping refrains.

The record unfolds in similar fashion for the next few songs, defending their faith in traditional heavy metal. Campy horror hits ‘The Edge of Evil’ and ‘Devil Rock’ particularly will have you singing along to the chorus in no time.

There are a few surprises tucked away in the third act. Now, you might want to cringe when coming across a title like ‘I Don’t Want to Fall in Love’ but it’s a pretty good song, very much in a RATT or Dokken type of vein rather than the raw unpolished style we’re used to from them. If you liked the last Sumerlands record, which has half of Eternal Champion doing the eighties hair metal thing, I’m sure this song will appeal to you as well.

‘When the Twilight meets the Dawn’ is prime time epic metal to counterpoint again with a devastating rhythm section that just blasts. ‘Cold Hearted Death’ closes the record in full ballad mode. Unexpectedly rather far removed from the usual horror tinged ham & cheese, this is really the crowning achievement for Stacey on this record to pull off a vocal feat like this and still stay standing, confident and convincing.

They’ll be playing in Diest at the end of May, so make sure to take advantage of this rare occasion seeing them live round these parts.

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