Review LANCER ‘Tempest’

Bands like Helloween, Edguy, but also Hammerfall are certainly no strangers to Lancer. The band, hailing from Arvika, Värmland, embeds some inspiration of the mention groups into their sound. Power metal, often at a higher pace, is what fans can expect from Lancer and also from their newest offer called ‘Tempest’.

Lancer started in 2009 and premiered in 2013. The self-titled debut album acted as a springboard, leading to a deal with Despotz Records. With ‘Tempest’ the fourth album of the Swedes will hit the shelves these days, showing a band that evolves with each release.

The band went through a bit of a rough patch which prolonged the work on the new album. One of the challenges was an adjusted line-up, with Pontus Andrén and Jack L. Stroem joining the band in 2019. Furthermore, we had a pandemic, and the new album should mark a glorious point of return too.

‘Tempest’ is the home for ten new metal anthems that might not sound very revolutionary. What makes this longplayer to an exciting one are the catchy melodies and the authentic power. This band doesn’t aim for the commercial success, also it would be welcomed, I guess. However, it is the unleashed energy and the felt commitment of the guys, making ‘Tempest’ to a vivid and dynamic metal release.

A song that reflects it very well is ‘Fan the Flames’. Thrilling melodies, a thundering rhythm and calmer middle section, these are the ingredients for a great song and ‘Fan the Flames’ contains them all.

That the guys have a lot of creative ideas is what is manifested by the running time of each track. Each of the songs is five to six minutes long and still fells straight to the point. Regardless of if we talk about the Edguy-ish ‘Enterity’ or the slower pounding title track, each moment of the album is well-thought through without losing its lightness.

‘Corruption’ is the well-located interlude, introducing the second half of the album. ‘Blind Faith’ follows the interlude and shows for a next time the passion of the band for traditional heavy metal.

‘We Furiously Reign’ is what the title predicts; a furious metal track, followed by ‘Eye for an Eye’, which belongs to the weaker moment on ‘Tempest’. The closer, ‘The Grand Masquerade’ brings back the strength of Lancer which basically their sense for a good riff and a solid melody.

‘Tempest’ will find friends among headbangers with a passion for traditional heavy metal. This longplayer is entertaining and avoids too many frills and distraction. ‘Tempest’ is all about music and Lancer evolves to a growing force in Swedish heavy metal.