Last year, All For Metal released “Legends,” their debut record. If you love power metal, it was as good as it gets.
Now, they’re back with “Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)”—the brackets are because 2024 is apparently just that, and this is a loosely based concept album around that.
After the intro (for added grandiosity, you assume), the title track gets going. To be fair, if you don’t like fists in the air, soaring pomp and ceremony, and arena rock solos, then it’s probably not for you.
Those that do, however, will find much to love here, frankly.
The title track thunders in a way that only the best do, and Hammerfall—the governors of this stuff—would be proud of “Way Of The Samurai.”
There’s a track here called “When Monsters Roar.” Like some, it’s got some dual vocals, and it aptly roars out the class of AFM.
The fantasy gets dialed up on “Like Thor And Loki,” while the sound expands a bit with Laura Guldemond’s (Burning Witches) appearance on “Valkyries In The Sky.” Of course, it ends with a massive ballad, “Who Wants To Live Forever.”
Let me tell you what will live forevermore: power metal. You’ll never kill it, so embrace it. All For Metal have. Who’s with them?
Rating: 8.5/10
