Well, it’s finally here. A mere six years after Coven Japan whet our whistles with The Advent EP, they return with their debut full-length offering Earthlings… Was it worth the over half-decade wait? Read on to find out…

Oh, bugger it. Why labour the point and make you wait for an answer you already know? Of course it was worth the wait. As the Maidenesque Land of the Rising Sun rips from the speakers (actually it’s more redolent of Tokyo Blade, if we’re being honest…) you know you’re in for a mighty ride, and the band literally don’t stop for a moment as they trot (and gallop) out every play in the Brit metal circa 1984 book over the course of eight glorious, life-affirming anthems to denim and leather.

Akihiro Ito and Toshikuni Komuro have some serious firepower in their combined guitar armoury; Throughout this album they deploy it without mercy (or originality, but that’s not really the point) backed by some plangent, agile basswork from Takachika Nakajima whilst vocalist Taka will take you back to Japanese metal’s glorious, pioneering early eighties days with a superb demonstration of metallised warbling that, though laced with pure nostalgia, is still mighty vital and highly effective.

What Goes Around Comes Around is pure Nipponese nirvana, built on the racing drums of, well, a machine, I assume, as no drummer is credited, and some rapier-like riffage that will bring a tear to the eye of anybody old enough to remember when Loudness made their first tentative steps at taking on the West at it’s own game. It’s pure excitement from start to finish, and I defy anyone not to whip out their trusty Air V when first confronted with this exuberant slice of pure joy…

Apocalypse employs some mayhemic atonality a la early Mercyful Fate – Olof Wikstrand‘s mix effortlessly captures the spooky air that enveloped Bendix and company back in the day – but the great thing about this album is that you don’t actually have to have been there when this kind of stuff originally had it’s day – it stands on it’s own two feet perfectly well as a work of modern heavy metal, and you’d be foolish not to lend this album at least one ear when it comes out. Just don’t leave it six year next time, Okay guys?

Earthlings releases today (November 24th).