Nightstryke – Power Shall Prevail – Album Review

Finland’s Nightstryke are yet another trad metal band ploughing the same land already furrowed to fuck by Raven, Angel Witch and Iron Maiden but at least they do it with some panache!

It’s hard to write about this kind of heavy metal when you’ve been served it, digested it and spat it back out so many times before that you’d be forgiven for requiring something a little fresher on the menu. However, while Nightstryke’s glaring familiarity may make some balk at the thought of spending 40 mins in their company, others will find much to savour about the galloping riffs, John Gallagher-esque screams and 80’s NWOBHM inspired ditty’s found on Power Shall Prevail.

Blatantly born in the wrong decade, Nightstryke’s appeal can be attributed to one simple fact: they’ve crafted a superb set of metal anthems.

While they’re at their best when they allow speed-metal to come to the fore (“Take You Away is a heart attack on a plate), when they go big, they also hit the right notes! Album closer “Mist in the Valley” may ramble on a tad  – nine and a half minutes if we’re being precise – but never once wear’s out its welcome and slides down rather nicely.

Absurdly faithful to time-honoured structures, Nightstryke will do well to embellish their sound with a little more originality in the future but, for now, the likes of the Paul Di’Anno-era, Maiden heavy “Neon Killer” should bring ravenous trad metal fans to the table in a hurry! 7/10