British heavy metal fans will doubtless be aware of Power Surge through the band’s links with scene stalwarts Primitai (guitarists Srđan Bilić and Calvin Lever) and Neuronspoiler (bassist Radek Koval), but, on the evidence of the band’s debut album, Shadows Warning, that notoriety is set to explode across the globe if there’s any justice…

In the band’s own words, the plan here is to ‘primarily evoke the late nineteen eighties when bands took classic metal origins to the next step – whether ramping up the pace with fast technical riffing, introducing progressive twists, or adding a touch of AOR mystique” – and I can happily confirm that they’ve succeeded on all fronts!

In fact, they exceed those stated war aims on tracks like Breathe New Life and No Turning Back, going so far as to suggest that they may have it within them to actually equal the output of those revered giants from days gone by. Breathe New Life in particular is a rattling good piece of ‘proper’ heavy metal, evoking Iron Maiden in their pomp for sure but, well… breathing new life into the template! Roko Nikolić has a voice that truly has the ability to walk the same hallowed halls as names like Tate and Dickinson, but his real power lies in the fact that he’s carved an identity for himself, so whilst there’s a comforting familiarity about what he does he can never be accused of simply aping his heroes. He gives a tour de force performance on the proggy metal of With The Dawning that’ll have the hairs on the back of your neck standing to attention in seconds.

Bilić impresses too, linking in with Primitai six string cohort Calvin Lever to produce some stirring sounds, especially on the superb No Turning Back which is destined to be one of this reviewer’s songs of the year. The attention to detail here with regards to what makes great heavy metal is absolutely staggering – right down to drummer Milan Jejina‘s strategically-placed cymbal splashes – and yet nothing here, or over the course of the rest of the album if we’re being honest, ever sounds contrived or calculated. This is metal made by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, and it’s absolutely fantastic.

I’ll stop there, because this review would just degenerate into hyperbole if I kept going. Suffice to say, if you love heavy metal as it manifested itself in it’s heyday, then you absolutely must purchase this record.

Shadows Warning releases on May 2nd.