Finland's Heavy Metal Perse and Guardians Of Mankind both feature vocalist Matias Palm, but other guys are different in both bands. Heavy Metal Perse ("perse" translates to "arse", by the way) play galloping power metal with zilch of originality in their music. 'Legenda Taikamiekasta' tells a legend about a magic sword in vein of Italians Rhapsody, featuring a very Eurovision song contest style chorus. Mr. Palm's voice is pretty much a curiosity in this style of metal, sounding something like if YUP's Jarkko Martikainen was singing some heavy metal. Quite high-pitched and wobbling like hell, I just don't like it. Acoustic version of 'Peikkotyrannin Kuolema' (= "the death of troll tyrant" or something like that) is a nice one, with camp fire feeling.

Guardians Of Mankind perform Gamma Ray cover, a Finnish version of classic 'Valley of the Kings'. This is very well done, but still too similar to the original, in musical side. Keyboardist Eero Kaukomies have already played with his heroes on tour, so this is skilled work. The lyrics have been translated well and some there's some funny bits about lederhosen on chanting part. Matias Palm manage to sound a bit like Kai Hansen here, but only a bit.

The production is okay for both of the bands, but some of the today's demos sound much better. Cover artwork is a fine piece for every fantasy art fan. In all, this is only a reasonably interesting piece of power metal from Finland, since both Heavy Metal Perse's songs are old (although acoustic version is something new) and 'Kuninkaidenlaakso' is still only a curiousity, not a must.

Rating: 5- (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
03/07/2008 17:02