Finland has been a hot spot for producing quality metal bands lately and
Leverage is no exception to this new rule blown from the cold Scandinavian north. Their first album, entitled "Tides" was quite popular among critics and recently recieved a wider release from Frontiers Records. That re-releasing coincided with the unleashing of their second effort,
"Blind Fire".
"Blind Fire" is a very worthy followup to that groundbreaking debut, a great showcase of melodic metal. A few niggling issues keep it from being absolutely mindblowing, mostly the sometimes questionable lyrics and the way themes and choruses are repeated a little too often, but overall its very solid. The sound is often like having the prog tendancies of
Symphony X brushed heavily with the neoclassical multi-hues of
Rainbow. Add in the more complex offerings from melodic rockers
Magnum and you get a varied picture of what can be found here. The combination can be quite arresting, especially given the clean, booming production that lets the music boom out with clarity.
Pekka Heino is this band's leverage to boost them up from the rest. Also singing in Brother Firetribe, he's not as showboaty here (he completely hams it up as a rock god in Firetribe), but rather turns his attention to producing an utterly smooth and delightful vocal. There is a depth here not as apparent in Firetribe, as
Leverage has moments that require subtlety as well as blasts of pure power. He handles each mode with an uncanny ease and professionalism that is mind blowing. Pekka is quickly climbing the frontman ranks and gaining quite the positive reputation in performances like these, that's not likely to let up any time soon.
The disc opens up splashing in the cold melodic waves of
Rainbow rivers in
"Shadow in the Rain", a song that is striking in its rippling melody and subdued chorus. That chorus just shines though, smooth as the frozen ice of a pond's glassy surface in the middle of winter's wrath.
"King of the Night" has some interesting moments, and perhaps a more instant hook than the previous track, but something is lost lyrically.
"Stormchild" wraps you up in its wonders again, having a chilly feel that reveals warmth at the most inopportune moments. This midtempo track pours forth freely, calling images of a past
Magnum in their "Storyteller Night" (and there abouts) hey day.
"Sentenced" is darker, sweeping and utterly tragic. A love grown sour, and a heart gone cold. The chorus is sing-song and Pekka nails the trembly emotion in the track.
"Hellhorn" utilizes this annoying blaring horn sound that shrieks out and fades to a squawk. A tale of religious questioning laying underneath double drums and a pace that spatters out like a frayed rapid heartbeat.
"Mr. Universe" comes whipping out with a fast paced tempo and some great melodic moments. The verses are easy and smooth and crank into an effortless chorus. Guitars weave in and out, Torsti giving a fantastic performance in the midst of all the music. Guitar wise it has that touch of Malmsteen, the bubbly crystalline guitar fireworks that burst like sprayed fire in the sky.
"Don't Touch the Sun" is an almost ballad. It begins soft, acoustic and mystically caressing. Slowly building by adding instruments and voice, this one escalates to a gorgeous, heart warming power ballad that puts the emphasis on "power". Magnificently moody and progressively mesmerizing.
"Run Down the Hill" has blasts of
Rainbow, riffing reminiscent of
Symphony X's more melodic moments and a wild guitar solo exchange between Torsti and Marko that is dazzling. Also could be compared to the Malmsteen "Trilogy" or "
Magnum Opus" days. "Trilogy" for its crisp power pushing feel and "
Magnum Opus" for the grit and neoclassical grind inbetween.
The last two songs are true highlights from the disc.
"Heart of Darkness" is spun from a fine web of rich melody and lovely lyrics that are just belted from the power of Pekka's superb voice. A rolling rhythm gives it a smooth pop-
Rainbow essence, something from the Doogie
White days in "Stranger In Us All".
"Learn to Live" stretches its wings and flies. An elegant ballad that pulls all the strings and delivers its potential in spades. Nothing is held back here, its full fledged awesomeness from the beginning twangs of the softening acoustic to the arena quality heart-lurching chorus.
Leverage is perhaps not completely original, but their mixture of melody and guitar mastery will win over many fans to their cause. The disc is a treat for Pekka's vocals alone, as he gives a rich and rather magnificent performance, breathing life to songs that would have been more mundane without his wizardly vocal presence. Guitar fanatics will appreciate the plethora of guitar solos that twist and twine like electric vines amongst each other. A solid album of pomp, bombast and melody that should appeal to power, prog and melodic fans alike. A bridging of all three worlds here in
"Blind Fire" and the seamless blending is nothing but pure class.
Written by
Alanna Friday, February 8, 2008
Show all reviews by AlannaRatingsAlanna: 8/10Members: No members have rated this album yet.
This article has been shown 4311 times. Go to the
complete list.
