Lancer - Mastery (2016)

I have followed Lancer from the start, or at least from their first full length release and onwards. Their first two releases of NWoBHM influenced power metal are really good and very enjoyable, but still lacked something to elevate the band to the next level. Well, they have at least made a move to make that leap, signing with Nuclear Blast right before the unveiling of their third release. It still does not have to mean anything though, because it is the music that speaks the loudest in the end.

So has anything changed since "Second Storm"? Well, the sound is still fairly similar, but the NWoBHM influence is taking more of a backseat ride here, and the band turns up the heaviness instead. This makes "Mastery" sound more like a mix of Stratovarius and HammerFall, blending heavy hitters with soaring melodies. It is a parable that makes even more sense when you hear the vocalist Isak Stenvall, who sings with a high pitch that is not too far off from either Joacim Cans or Timo Kotipelto. In other words, he fits very well with the music.

Even if you cannot unsee these parables, it is pretty hard to not enjoy the music in "Mastery", because most of it pumps your adrenaline in just the right way, while also being really catchy. The title track roars on in an astounding way, with the band showing off all of their power, while both "Widowmaker", "Envy of The Gods", and "Future Millennia" leans more on the melodies, while still maintaining a fast momentum. While I feel like not all of the power songs in this record does not work (looking at you "Dead Raising Towers" and "Iscariot"), it is still enough quality here to make "Mastery" an excellent power metal outing.

What does surprise me though is that the two slower songs on this record, "Victims of The Nile" and "World Unknown", not  only brings some good variation, but actually shines really bright in comparison to a lot of its brethren. Especially "Victims of The Nile" is a great moody song that may be the longest song on this record (7 minutes and 36 seconds), but the band manages to hold it together in an impressive way, changing tempos and intensity throughout its run time. It reminds me of some of HammerFall's finest ballad moments, only this one is more versatile and exciting.

While the band is doing a really nice job on this record, I feel like the guitars are almost getting lost in the mix, never really standing out. It is pretty hard to extinguish that Lancer is a double guitar band, and the production is definitely to blame here. I find this especially odd in the song "Freedom Eaters", a song that has a long solo part at the end where the guitar sure gets its moment, but I remember the following bass and drum solo more. Still a great song, but it is exhibit A in why the guitars are not getting the love they deserve in this album.

Nonetheless, I think that "Mastery" not only holds the same standard as both "Lancer" and "Second Storm", but it might even be their best record so far. Sure, it has its flaws, and the band still has some kinks to work through, but they are on the right path. This heavier style works really well, and if the band keeps evolving in this direction, then the recognition will probably be even greater. Great job lads!

Songs worthy of recognition: Mastery, Future Millennia, Victims of The Nile, Freedom Eaters

Rating: 8/10 Iscariots

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Lancer
Second Storm

Lancer - Second Storm (2015)

The Swedish power metal band Lancer made quite a big impression on me with their self titled debut album that was released around 2 years ago, mostly because they successfully mixed the power in power metal and the melodies in NWoBHM so well that it turned into a new and refreshing sound. But for their second full length
effort, conveniently named "Second Storm", they leave the NWoBHM in the shadows to put all of their earnings on power. A interesting decision that may not be a innovative one, but could help the band in getting more fans quickly to discover what they bring to the metal world.

I do not think that it might have been the wrong decision to change their direction, especially since the change is not that huge, but it definitely makes Lancer more unoriginal. They often sound like a Stratovarius cover band, especially since the vocalist Isak Stenvall sounds a lot like Timo Kotipelto. This really makes "Second Storm" a uneasy experience, cause even if you like the music, you still got a thought in the back at your head that says this could as well have been stolen from Stratovarius.

So it may not come as a surprise for you that I recommend fans of Stratovarius to listen to this album, not because the music has many similarities with what the Finns do, but also because the quality of the craft is quite good. The songs "Fools Marches On", Running From The Tyrant", and "Behind The Walls" gives you the power and speed that you would expect from a power metal band, while "Children of The Storm" and "Masters And Crowns" gives the album more musicality and depth. The set list does have a good amount of diversity, and the red thread goes visibly through all of the songs, which connects them together, making this a more solid piece. I also recommend the epic chorus in "Eyes of The Liar" and the solo work in "Steelbreaker".

But just like in the debut album, "Second Storm" tend to become a little boring after a couple of listens, making its life length disappointingly short. Lot of the songs in this album definitely holds a great standard, but I cannot see myself listening to them for too long, too often. The band also have to work on being more even in the song writing process. The old school "Iwo Jima" is just plain boring and "Aton" does have some neat ideas, but ended up as a close to 10 minute long AOR song that I have trouble with listening to in its entirety. It is way too long for its own good.

So Lancer does not quite reach up to the standards that their self title debut did, but "Second Storm" is still a quite good power metal album by a band that does have a future in this business. The overall song quality is enjoyable and the band knows what they are doing, but to reach the next level in their career, they have to fine tweak some key components, including getting their musical image a lot clearer. Otherwise, they do have several things that makes a great band. A good bunch of musicians, a nice logo, and a cool and menacing ostrich that fonts every album cover. So keep on working guys, and make your coming third storm your biggest yet.

Songs worthy of recognition: Children of The Storm, Masters And Crowns, Fools Marches On

Rating: 7,5/10 Steelbreakers

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