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November 2024

• Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
• Lionville: Supernatural
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October 2024

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September 2024

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August 2024

• Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
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• Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
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• Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
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[ More Music Reviews ]

Power Theory: Force Of Will

Heavy Power Metal

4.0/5.0

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Pure Steel Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 04.12.2019 | Released: 06.12.2019

Philadelphia's Power Theory returns to the studio after a four year hiatus, and once more we have to discuss personnel changes. Founding member and guitarist Robert Ballinger, along with current bass player Alan D'Angelo, welcome new vocalist Jim Rutherford, drummer Johnny Sasso, and Shadowdance guitarist Carlos Alvarez. Together this new crew presents Power Theory's latest and fourth album, Force Of Will. The recording features Iron Savior's Piet Sielck on the song Spitting Fire.

Power Theory

But some things don't change. Once more Power Theory delivers their trademark American heavy power metal, featuring dense twin guitar riff harmony, brisk and blistering leads, and a thundering bass and drum rhythm section. Curiously, or not, Johnny Sasso plays with a single bass drum. Not all that odd in heavy metal, yet interesting. Rutherford has a melodic and clean vocal style with some range. Thanks to some expert mixing and mastering, his voice rises above the heaviness of the power metal. I'm not sure he'd fair quite as well in a live context. After these thing, most every song leaps from the gate with power metal gallop and groove, only race to the mandatory epic guitar solos.

For a true power metal rush listen for Force Of Will, Mountain Of Death, Draugr, or the brisk Spitting Fire. Alternatively, for Albion, Power Theory offers more heavy, steady, and dense metal, yet with moments of mellowness. Both Th13teen and Bringer Of Rain try to trip you up with light electric guitar intros, but quickly develop into heavy power metal tunes. The former is a bit faster with Rutherford experimenting with (brief) death vocals. The latter dials back on the pacing and heaviness, and offers some strong vocal harmony. All said, Force Of Will finds Power Theory in fine form once again, offering their twin guitar, heavy and dense, American power metal. Recommended.

Street Lethal: Welcome To The Row

Traditional Heavy Metal

4.0/5.0

Hailing from Barcelona, Street Lethal is a young Spanish metal band, with equally young members ( and all having stage names ending in lethal). I'm not sure if any of them ... [ Read More ]

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Force Of Will finds Power Theory in fine form once again, offering their twin guitar, heavy and dense, American power metal. Recommended.

Alphabetical Index

eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]