Review METALITE “Discovery”

Since 2015, Swedish band Metalite have been adding their own blend of melodic metal and sci-fi themes to the genre. Of the original lineup, only guitarist Edwin Premberg remains, while Robert Majd—also known to many from Nighthawk—has been part of the band for a decade. Erica Ohlsson took over vocal duties in 2019, and she delivers another solid performance on Discovery.

Swedish bands have a reputation for having a keen sense of melody, and Metalite certainly fit that picture. Take “In the Maze,” for example, and you quickly get a good idea of what this band is about. Metalite generally keep the pace moving, relying on catchy hooks while maintaining a certain metallic edge throughout the album. Most of the songs make an immediate impression, which makes Discovery easy to get into. There is, however, a flip side to that accessibility: not every track sticks around in your head for very long.

You can easily work your way through the album, tap your foot along to punchy numbers like “The Metal Elite” and the driving “Starchild,” and still find yourself wondering afterward which moments really stayed with you. That doesn’t make Discovery a bad record – far from it. Tracks like “Wings of Fire” have plenty of charm, and surfing through the tracklist is an enjoyable ride. The album knows how to keep the mood upbeat, even if some of its melodies disappear almost as quickly as they arrive.

In the end, Discovery is a solid melodic metal record, although it doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel. The hooks are infectious, the melodies put you in a good mood, and the whole thing has an easy sense of momentum. In a way, Discovery is like a quick sugar rush: it gives you an extra shot of energy, feels good while it lasts, and doesn’t overstay its welcome. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.