This Means War

Okay, I'm going in blind again. This time to an Irish power metal quintet called Bakken, whose new album This Means War had rather striking artwork. It doesn't take much to draw me in! Luckily, I found that the splendid album art accurately reflected the band's toughened approach to melodic power metal which seems to echo the methods of the European school. Especially the Germany/Belgium/Netherlands area. I could easily hear acts as far-ranging as Magic Kingdom or Mystic Prophecy belting out some of these riffs and melodies. This Means War is the Brits' sophomore full-length, released after a huge almost-eight-year gap since their debut Death Of A Hero. This new LP outdoes their previous effort in every aspect and, whilst not being a super-spectacular mark upon the genre, is a more-than-solid slab of progressively tinged, aggressive melodic power metal with a sound that is characteristically theirs.

First thing's first: the production quality here is great - especially that powerful drum sound driving the whole affair. The guitar tone could be thicker to match the meat of everything else, but when they indulge in a spot of open E-string chugging, its a fabulous sound. Check out the 3:29 mark in "We Fight" for this album's most gloriously headbangable moment. Hell, that whole track is a beefy, speedy power anthem which shows off some of the best the style has to offer - my surefire favourite cut on the disc. The Belfastians choose to open proceedings with a martial orchestral flourish, providing a suitable grandiose atmosphere before the title-track knocks you on your ass with cleverly-constructed riffs, gang-shouts in the chorus, and an overall structure that doesn't treat the listener like an idiot. This is pretty much Bakken's M.O. and is what earns them maximum respect points from me.

Vocalist Frank Levi has a great set of pipes on him. He's always squeaky clean and hardly ever gruff, but that doesn't stop him from emoting some serious attitude, especially on the hard-hitting "Evil Walks This Way". Elsewhere, he soars admirably around his upper range with reckless abandon, at times reminding me of a higher version of Michael Vescera. I also appreciate his note of humour and cackle in the groovy "Star Machine". Musically, this is the track that sticks out as having a different vibe to the rest - employing a swinging 12/8 feel, but sticking to a chug-heavy riff-set and a quirky tone. The multi-faceted "In Requiem" also stands by itself, being probably the most musically diverse and progressive on the album. The way this track builds, climaxes and settles is testament to Bakken's songwriting potential - particularly the hammering riff just after the 4-minute mark.

I don't mean to disparage the rest of the tracks on This Means War. The momentum of driving, riff-centric and slightly celestial power metal rarely lets up for the album's duration; and, at eight tracks reaching just over forty minutes, doesn't outstay it's welcome. Sometimes I wish the vocal patterns or melody lines were a little more catchy to add accessibility and singalong value, but there are some infectious choruses here (the title-track and "In Requiem"), really heavy riffs ("Cold Blooded Murder") and many galloping double-kick attacks. If you find yourself dismissing power metal for its cheesiness and overly sticky-sweet melodies in the vein of Freedom Call or Power Quest, then Northern Ireland's Bakken have you covered. This is more in line with bands like Iron Savior, Gamma Ray or Savage Circus. Good job, Bakken - one of the power metal highlights of 2020 for me.