There’s a lot to process on the new album from Swedish power metal Guardians Veonity; Mainly, that’s because their kitchen sink approach to the genre means that every song has an awful lot going on at any given point. But also, it’s because the band seem to be approaching things from several different angles this time around. A thought-provoking power metal album? Whatever next!

For instance opening song Chains of Tyranny sees the band testing new and interesting waters. Melodic lines don’t go where you’re expecting them to, especially in the vocals of new singer Isak Stenvall. This is great to report, given the small ‘c’ conservative nature of many bands ploughing this particular musical furrow. Veonity proved on 2018’s Legend of the Starborn that this is a band that isn’t afraid to chance it’s arm a little, and once again here their bravery pays off.

That said, Carry On and Riders of the Revolution are as ‘trad’ as they come; the first is a perky, Freedom Call style romp, the latter a portentous take on the HammerFall playbook. Warriors Code carries this mood forward, with Stenvall sounding eerily like Joacim Cans; However the actual song is really rather good indeed, and you’ll finding yourself dismissing any gripes you may have about stylistics as the song snatches you up in it’s ironclad grasp and bangs your head to oblivion.

Good power metal has that effect, and despite the one-step-forward-two-steps-back feel of some of the material, the final verdict will say that there’s an awful lot of good power metal on The Final Element, whoever or whatever it sounds like. So whilst interesting elements do poke their head above the parapet, the band aren’t so hellbent on deconstructing the muse that they are happy to throw out the baby with the bath water; Hence the best track here, Powerstone, sounds like a history of Swedish power metal in one easy-to-digest gobbet. And, after a bit of chin stroking and navel gazing, I’m going to ask… ‘and what the hell is wrong with that?’

The answer, of course, is nothing. Absolutely nothing. Hail and Kill, Swedish metal messiahs!



The Final Element is out now.