Lancer - S/T (2013)

The last couple of years have been pretty quiet when it comes to new forces in power metal. Sure some new bands show up but there are few bands these days that is making a big impression. One of those bands that has gained quick recognition in Sweden is Lancer. So what methods have the newcomers to attract a big audience? They are simply going old school with music that has influences from Helloween, Stratovarius and Iron Maiden. Sounds good right? Well it is not that simple. Taking influences from such great bands really demands some great craftsmanship behind the music if the band  does not want the music to sound flat and like a rip-off. So Sebastian Pedernera, Fredrik Keleman, Peter Ellström, Isak Stenvall and Emil Öberg has quite a name to live up to.

First thing I listen to in a power metal album is the structure in the music since most power metal band play in a same or similar rhythm. Mostly bands in that genre play at 100 km/h or faster without any hesitation and with the double bass pounding. Luckily, Lancer is not that type of power metal band. Sure we got some speedy tunes like "Mr. Starlight" and "Purple Sky" but their speed is not ridiculous, just fast enough to make the most out of the songs. No it is the guitars and the vocals that is stealing the show on this album. The twin guitars sounds well tuned and are played tightly together and the singing styles of Isak Stenvall may not be very original but it is still effective none the less. Isak has a good vocal range from high pitch to lower registers (btw, on some parts on the lower registers Isak sounds a little like Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson (check "Between The Devil And The Deep")).

Most of the song on "Lancer" hold a high standard but there are a couple songs that stands out a little more than the others. I like "Young And Alive" for its epic sound and purely awesome chorus, a song that reminds me of Black Majesty, one of my favourite power metal bands. Another song that sticks out is "Seventh Angel", one of the more soothing songs that has a killer keyboard riff in the chorus. The last song that I want you all to check out is the more modern power metal song "Don't Go Changing".

In the last song, "Between The Devil And The Deep", Lancer is trying to recreate a classic Iron Maiden epic. I would not say that the song sucks (it does not) but the band bit more than they could chew. It just does not have the same intensity and the sam great epicness as when Iron Maiden does it. It may be so that the band will in time be able to master these kinds of songs but for now it is missing some key moments to really make these kinds of songs as epic as they could have been.

Now is there any song I would give a warning to for not holding a high enough standard? The only song I would give such a warning to is probably "Deja Vu", A song that is not horrible but does fall behind the rest of the tracks. It is also the only song where I feel the singer is not capable to make the song rise. The chorus just sounds like a lot of complaining and it is also boring.

This is a great effort for a debut album. Clean power metal with straight NWOBHM influences is rarely unsuccessful which this album proves. Lancer does without a doubt have a bright future. But even if I enjoyed the bands self titled debut I still feel that there is more to take from this band. This record tends to be slightly boring after a couple of listening sessions. But if the band keeps it up they will definitely gather some great recognition in no time.

Songs worthy of recognition: Young And Alive, Mr. Starlight, Seventh Angel

Rating: 8/10 Dreamchasers