Power Dive

Long before mass viral hysteria overtook our future shook World, there was an emerging heavy metal band in Dresden, Saxony by heavenly name of Angel Blade which put out, not like clueless, over-populating breeders, but rather, a wistfully stirring three track demo (also split with fellow Teuton house of power Venator) before turning around in 2021 with none too "basic" Acid Blade moniker, as well as further demo now fully reprised within this forty minute, eight track full-length debut titled Power Dive and available on three hundred cassette copies under Sweden's ever Jay Priestly Jawbreaker record label.

Although I was baffled and waylaid by the skin shedding quintet's equally newfound touch, a modern and shimmering, if not less ephemeral, style which saw front man Klay Mensana revert to a massively differing vocal approach, now revel like mad in this fully convincing, melodious arrangement with balls.

Placed in such fresh perspective, A Blade grandly delivers despite total tonal overhaul where everything sounds one hundred percent different from the angelic and original EP. Whilst synth graced opener "Hot Bloods On The Loose" behaves like a quadruple timed, super slapdash version of Metallica's rangy "Hit The Lights" introduction (from a bygone era of fax machines and rotary phones), a top-down haymaker ensues with vocally catchy and sonorous "Ablaze At Midnight".

Then, Acid Blade spreads its dissolved wings, reaching for the alien dwelling stars in magniloquent fashion. Alvin Goreman and Luke Lethal tear us old ones thanks to their liquified and syncopated leads, the non cookie cut kind which transcend multiple dimensional spheres as they go on forever, tumbling away in galactic darkness like a space opera gone rogue.

The rhythm section comprised of bassist Sci-Man and drummer Eric Nukem (good!) doesn't simply crouch in the corner, proffering strong performances throughout. In particular, a kookily staggered "Power Dive" and return pummel-er "King Killer" excel in this department, yet rest easy as the album is far from front loaded. "Into The Light" plays it safe as a dually riffed exercise in twin guitar hegemony, perhaps also assuring a bright beacon of stability among otherwise more explosive material soon to emerge with advent of said ode to regicidal hitmen across the technologically rushed ages.

Next is fraternally hypnotic demo piece - and fictional Maiden-ry history lesson - "The Tomb Of Khentika Ikheki", last of un-offending repeaters ahead of final pair, the tempered, swaying waltz of "Moonless Night" (in which inhabits a sweetly deployed, old school rock-ish solo excursion) and my preferred, wickedly titled closer, ""Harpyie Auf Dem Flügel" to all us giddy Germanophiles literally out there. Also standing in as longest track, it incorporates classic Cloven Hoof/Riot V vibes to a slick and none too cherubic NWOBHM formula.

Disregard early Acid Blade misgivings, as, alongside fellow countrymen Midnight Rider and Tension, it constitutes a must for any smartly versed fan of the rapidly enrapturing genre.