Behölder : "In the Temple of the Tyrant"

You rarely see power metal or more traditional metal bands getting much love from your regular internet news sources. It would almost make you think the genre does not exist. I am guilty of this as anyone, but for me it's more of the fact that most modern power metal bands are dark enough for me and tend to frolic a bit in their triumphant galloping. It might seem odd since Iron Maiden is one of my favorite bands, but that is how it is. Anyways, this American band is getting a bit of a buzz, so I thought I would check them out as what I have heard going ito this is that there is a doomy mood to what they do, which is true of the opening track that is closer to what Solitude Aternus does than say Hammerfall. But they do turn more into a power metal direction on the second song, which does not vibe with me as much. 

They are also a Dungeons & Dragons-themed band, which should be something else going in their favor. But the campaigns I run are a bit darker than what is going on here.  "Into the Underdark" is more aggressive, and given the subject matter, a trip into the lands of the Drow should feel more ominous. To their credit, they do mention the Drow, now waiting to hear if Mindflayers are also mentioned. No, Mindflayers, we can't have everything.  Tomi of Amorphis snarls to  "Eyes of the Deep". There does not seem to be any triumphant galloping, so we are off to a good start.  The operatic bellowing of their singer is not the hookiest, and power-metal vocal lines tend to be stiff, almost an excess of vocal control. 

"For Those Who Fell" is a more melodic power ballad, with the emphasis on power. It is pretty effective. "Draconian" might have the soaring chorus, but the beefier verses balance things out, reminding me of old Iced Earth. "Summoned ...Bound" finds them drifting back toward the doomier side of what they do. This gives their singer more room to open up and really sing. "I Magnus" is a little gloomier than your average power metal; it is more deliberate than just carefree galloping.  Pretty impressive, I will give this album a 9, one of the highest scores and an album like this has gotten in a minute. Fans of traditional metal take heed. 

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