LANCER — Lancer (review)

Album · 2013 · Power Metal

4/5 · 2012-12-31
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Back in 1987, a German band called Helloween pioneered the so called European sound of the power metal genre with a pair of albums called Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I & II. Although these two albums laid much of the groundwork for the countless bands and variations on the genre that would follow, with the possible exception of the related band Gamma Ray, nothing has ever come out that has really matched the feel of the two Keeper albums. It was power metal but with a strong vibe of 80’s heavy metal not unlike what you’d expect to hear from the more traditional bands that were around at the time, particular out of the NWoBHM. Power metal seemed to quickly evolve to have what could be seen as a typical sound, and even Helloween themselves never made another album that captured quite the same sound. As I said, Gamma Ray, formed by former Helloween member Kai Hansen, may be the exception as their classic album Land of the Free has often been considered to be Keeper of the Seven Keys Part III, but no one else has come even close to matching that same sound. Until now that is. Enter the Swedish band Lancer and their self-titled debut full-length (2013), which boasts of a sound that could easily claim to be a lost Helloween album from the time between Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II and the less highly acclaimed Pink Bubbles Go Ape.

Lancer’s debut contains perhaps a bit more traditional heavy metal than either of Helloween’s classics, but the basis of what pioneered power metal is all here and present and correct. Power metal basically translates as fast melodic music, and that’s pretty much what you get with Lancer. At the same time there is plenty of inspiration to be heard from classic metal, both with some of the riffs and as with Keepers I & II, the overall vibe of the music. This music is old school and unashamed of it. Old school power metal isn’t something you hear of really, when the term comes it its usually ‘old school heavy metal’ or ‘old school death metal’, so Lancer comes across as something which by definition is the same, but as far as this revivalist stuff goes, it’s surprisingly fresh, and the songs are damn great as well. Stuff like Purple Sky and Mr. Starlight come across as anthems that will stick with you a long time. A few parts of the album put me more firmly in mind of a more modern power metal sound, where the fast riffs stand out above all else, such as Young & Alive. Finally you get a few tracks much more traditional metal orientated, like Between the Devil and the Deep.

Lancer has a great energy on this album, which has produced no bad songs. They are equally competent playing in both the heavy and power metal styles and mix and match the two up seamlessly. While the album never really manages to stand out as being anything beyond great, there is plenty of nostalgic value to be found here as there is with any old school release worth its salt. Better yet is that despite the old school feel Lancer doesn’t feel at all dated. A great album rating is deserved.

83/100

(Originally written for Heavy Metal Haven (http://metaltube.freeforums.org/lancer-lancer-t2720.html))