In the Land of Vandor

After having spent quite a lot of time listening to some really great death and black metal it is time to get back to my “daily business” and check out what is new on the Power Metal front. When doing so it is always a good idea to start searching in Sweden and so it did not come as a real surprise when I found out about a pretty youngish band having just released their debut full length. A short look at the cover artwork and the fonts would have been enough to get a pretty concrete idea of what to expect – and thankfully this band does not disappoint.

Traditional melodic power metal is what “In the Land of Vandor” is all about. The guys do not waste any time beating around the bush and make clear who their idols are. Fast riffs and highly addictive harmonies immediately remind of old Helloween and Stratovarius. While this might not sound innovative the Bjerde brothers and their colleagues have put so much energy and power into their performance leading to a frenetic and fresh example of modern power metal.

While most of the trademark chords will sound familiar to most fans of the genre guitarists Vide and Jack perfectly combine crunchy riffs and melodic lead lines in a way to create an uplifting and positive mood. There are a few surprises though, like slowing down everything in the middle of a song to implement some ambient and very laid-back grooves. In those moments I can see why classic and progressive rock have also been mentioned as influences. It won’t take too long tough before the next relentless and mesmerizing guitar hook will take center stage again.

While the speed is kept high for most parts and the hooks are absolutely catchy Vandor never sound too cheap or cheesy. This is not so much the kind of overblown and overly dramatic stuff that has often been released within the last decade. Instead this kind of power metal is a bit stripped down in that regard – similar to what e.g. Palantir did on their debut album 2017.

The most important factor on a power metal record might be the refrains and this is where Vandor really shine. Nearly each of the songs has a memorable chorus that will put a smile on the face of each fan of bands like Morifade or Dionysus. From the second spin on you are going to nod your head and sing along. Some harmonies do have a slightly melancholic flair adding another layer to the overall record. This is some really addicting stuff.

The production is more or less flawless which is especially impressive as we are talking about an independently released album. The guitars and the drums have enough power without overshadowing the other elements. The bass is audible and even gets a few solo moments to shine. Overall “In the Land of Vandor” is a great product and a must-have for each serious fan of the genre. Early candidate for the 2019 YE list.