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Battlelore
"The Last Alliance"
(Napalm Records)

I'm not sure if Finland's epic fantasy metal band were named after the strategy boardgame but they contain enough members (there's seven of 'em) to play in one! Characterised uniquely in that all their lyrics draw from Tolkien's Middle Earth these lads and ladies play steriod fed power metal that is made 'epic' by 'heroic' riffs and the contrasting male (fighting uruk-hai?) / female (galadriel?) vocals that on the one hand scream and roar whilst being contrasted by soothing tranquility as summed up best on 'Exile The Daystar'. Added to that are dreamy and atmospheric keyboards and a driving rhythm that never lets up like on 'The Great Gathering' where it reaches almost blast beat levels. "The Last Alliance" is the band's 5th album and follows on pretty much from their breakthough album "Evernight" with the best material being where the band utilise all their elements together like on 'Epic Dreams' and 'Moontower' so if the band can continue this sorta style not even the dark hand of Sauron can vanquish them!!

-Shan Siva