Hard to believe, but this is a power metal band (we'll get to that in a bit) from the interior of British Columbia, and what's more, they're recording for a German label. OK, so man, these guys have got it together, including great graphics and even a vinyl issue of this album. The sound, you ask? Well, this is all wrapped up in that true metal world, rather than power metal per se, meaning the idea is a little more gritty and electric and NWOBHM-infected. Which comes through in Nikko Forsberg's clarion wail, which possesses the spirit of Steve Grimmett of Grim Reaper fame. And further upon spirit, 'Willow Run' finds drummer Eric Hoodicoff (he's also the classic, bluesy-minded Tipton/Downing guitarist; the band is rounded out with bassist Christopher Rand) quoting the opening fill of Accept's 'Balls To The Wall' which in fact, Corrosion Of Conformity has done as well (others?). That one is a Maiden-esque ballad of olden tone (there's weirdly a lot of mellow old Madien on here), and then man, one of the interesting things about this album is that it's not trying to be particularly flashy, with something like '(In) The Eye Of The Storm' also being an unshowy pop metaller like Scorpions. I dunno, call this Bible Of The Devil with a hint of Airbourne's meat and potato vodka-swilling relax of ambition. But therein lies a bit of a problem: when you sort of purposely Kiss-down your Dio-esque trunk of fist, and you're a new young band to boot, some of the songs are going to simply come off as underwritten, underwhelming, and sort of... well, in Savage Blade's case, not hair metal, but at least Lizzy Borden. It's an odd hybrid, and to the band's credit, I doubt many in metal are quite pressing their thumbs down on these specific nerves.