US band Vainglory release their debut album, a solid power metal set. Melodic with a touch of extreme, and former Chastain vocalist Kate French fronting.

There are touches of Saxon in opening track 'Walking Dead', only far more brutal, with a wall of sound effect.

There’s an element of speed metal to the rhythm in 'Burdened', which has a subtle melody and some decent riffs, still as heavy as hell. 'The Only Way I Know' starts off slower with a chunky riff before things pick up. Kate’s vocals are powerful, and it’s often hard to tell she’s female.

'Face Of Death' has a touch of shred. The album is extremely heavy without quite being an extreme metal album, and the changes of pace are good. Guitars go from thrash to power metal, some nice guitar harmonies and melodies, with touches of trad metal under the power (Saxon, Maiden Helloween esp on 'Decapitation Attack'). Heavy but good.

***

Review by Joe Geesin