Returning in 2024 with their third full-length offering, Finland’s Wake The Nations desperately yearn to be contenders.

And, on the evidence of glorious third track on Heartageddon, Never Say, it’s not impossible to imagine a time when they might just be that. A muscular attempt at the sort of headbanging but melodic nirvana usually reserved for the likes of H.E.A.T. and Dynazty, it shows a band that knows just what makes a Euro rock stomper in 2024.

But wait, there’s more; Never Say isn’t even the best track on the album! That accolade goes to the classy rifferama of Bulletproof, which adds a bit of US sheen to the mix, in the process bringing to mind the glory days of, ooh, Tyketto, say, in fine style. It’s a goosebump inducing festival of heavy AOR, and it’s a track I can confidently say you’ll still be listening to in years to come should you take a chance on this record.

Unforfortunately these two tracks represent the only real top draw material on offer, with the rest of the album struggling to keep up in terms of sheer impact and gusto. That said, everything here offers something to fans of what the Europeans like to call ‘Hard & Heavy’; Wheel of Fortune is not without charm, either, whilst Lifesaver will doubtless become a live fave, but a lot of the rest of the album is an exercise in perspiration rather than inspiration.

Wake The Nations clearly have something about them; Krister Stenbom has a pleasant voice that never grates and sometimes hints at greatness, whilst Risto Tuominen is clearly a guitar player of some ability with a nice line in melodic soloing. These blokes aren’t spring chickens, so world domination is probably beyond their grasp, but they do what they do well and they might well deliver something very special indeed next time out with a bit of luck. Let’s hope so!


 

Heartageddon releases on September 13th.