Gotta love the label's motto: “Old farts stuck in the '80s and proud of it!”. This is the follow-up to 2013's Judas Priest inspired Metal Strikes Back, where these sound-alike Swedes (singer/guitarist Cederick Forsberg moonlights for labelmates/Running Wild honorees Blazon Stone) offer eight originals (after a short “The Gathering” intro) and the concluding cover of Magnum's “Kingdom Of Madness”. Epic production and quality sound. Forsberg's voice is the weak link (although I've heard much worse) and the band have secured a full-time singer Marcus Olkerud for the live show. A much more cohesive effort this time around, speedy power metal anthems are the name of the game. In fact, the foot never really comes off the accelerator.

Wicked guitar interplay on the old style Blind Guardian title track. It's one thing to ape your favorite band(s) style, completely another to meld said influences into your own music. On album #3 the Rocka fellas have successfully transcended to that loftier goal. This stuff just seems to ooze from European pores and proves nearly impossible to replicate on this side of the Atlantic. Witness the spirited “Darkheart”, frenetic “The War Of Steel Has Begun” and the overturned hive of bees that is sing-along “Guardians Of The Oath”, all worthy additions to any metalheads' collection. Overdrive guitarist Janne Stark adds a solo to “With Fire And Sword”, as if they need additional old school cred. Nice upgrade Ced!