B.C.-based female-fronted metal band, Unleash The Archers, play an epic brand of ’80s traditional metal combined with ’90s power metal on its third full-length release, Time Stands Still. On its ten anthemic odes, the quintet shares a common musical thread with fellow Canadians Kobra And The Lotus, Into Eternity and 3 Inches Of Blood. The band’s sound is formulaic and predictable, but in a good way. The fist-pumping sing-along chants, the tantalizing harmonized guitar leads, the driving double bass patterns and a singer possessing powerful pipes are all worthy components of Unleash The Archers’s DNA. As cliched as it might seem, UTA pulls off these elements very well. The soaring vibrato voice of Brittney Slayes pierces and captures your attention, while the backup growls from guitarists Grant Truesdell and Andrew Saunders are used to enhance the soaring harmonies.

After CD-opener intro “Northern Passage” sets the tone, the lively “Frozen Steel” kicks in, which is loaded with an abundance of harmonized guitar leads, chugging riffs, blistering double bass and huge vocal harmonies come chorus time. The true gem of Time Stands Still is the galloping “Tonight We Ride”, decorated with a catchy chorus and memorable melodies. The classic-sounding “Test Your Metal” is an ode to ’80s power metal, which manages to pour on the cheese factor with aplomb. The very Scandinavian metal-flavored “Crypt” is a blast of thrashy melodeth goodness, while “No More Heroes” veers off into various meandering directions, which unfortunately happens a bit too often on Time Stands Still, especially on the longer tracks. The Scandinavian/Viking, epic metal theme returns on CD-closer “Time Stands Still.” Decorated with baritone choir, pounding drum beats, metallic riffs and soaring, Doro-esque vocals, making it one of the most adventurous tunes on the disc. Some newer bands playing this style of metal pull it off well, while others fail. Thankfully, Unleash The Archers is doing all the right things.