Band:	Drakkar
Album:	When Lightning Strikes
Style:	Power metal
Release date:	January 16, 2012
A review by:	Milena

01. Hyperspace - The Arrival
02. Day Of The Gods
03. The Armageddon Machine
04. In The Belly Of The Beast
05. Revenge Is Done
06. When Lightning Strikes
07. Winter Soldiers
08. Salvation
09. At The Flaming Shores Of Heaven
10. We Ride
11. The Awakening
12. My Endless Flight
13. Aftermath - The Departure
14. Engage!
15. New Frontier

Rating in words: If you're a fan of power metal, especially of epic or symphonic power metal such as Rhapsody Of Fire or Blind Guardian, you should hear this. Others should exercise caution, but most likely won't leave feeling like they've completely wasted their time.

2012 has only started rolling in and already we have some power metal that isn't boringly mediocre or cringe worthy. True, When Lightning Strikes isn't as fresh as Iron Fire's new album, or as awesome as Pharaoh's latest effort, but it is equal parts metal and epic, and hasn't managed to bore me even though this kind of power metal is my least favorite. What makes it different? The answer is cliché, but true: it's about love.

Drakkar are not only country mates, but also peers of Rhapsody Of Fire, being founded in 1995. However, this is only their fourth full-length: ever since 2002, they've issued just one EP. You can clearly see that the guys are hungry for playing music, and they've backed it with a comic-style, sci-fi story - it is about a man who reincarnates through time because aliens are using him as a living recorder of the history of mankind in order to "judge" us. Getting your geek gear on is a requirement.

Now that you're familiar with the history and concept (you've got to love me for being this thorough), let's talk about the actual music. Drakkar's power metal assault is targeted at the middle part of the register on every scale you were to measure it on - how come? Every tempo is mid to fast on When Lightning Strikes. There is a fine balance between the heavier guitar riffs and symphonic parts rich in flare (just like in every other album I've reviewed, they come from the keyboards), and quite a bit of audible bass too, but unfortunately the production isn't strong enough to support it all so at least one part drowns the other in the actual mix. The vocalist's got a strong, bard-like voice and delivery which will appeal to people who are bored of dog whistle vocals in power metal, since he sings almost exclusively in the middle range.

If this is so fairly balanced, why isn't anyone drooling over it? Aside from the formerly mentioned weaker production, the songwriting could be more polished - this complaint of mine is targeted at some vocal lines and arrangements which were not as catchy and strong as I'd hope them to be. Going for the not obviously catchy solutions adds to unpredictability, so the band could benefit a lot from it, but only if they have enough skill to pull it off. Originality is also under a big question mark here - Drakkar aren't ripping off any particular band, but have got on them the mark of almost every recipe once liked in the power metal scene, which can be easily filed under answering to prayers of nostalgia, but also noted as another case of a band contributing nothing "new". The listeners can decide for themselves - I think it's a bit of both.

Even though this hasn't got a lot of potential to wow people who aren't orthodox power metal fans, I enjoyed it quite a bit because the love Drakkar feels for their music is tangible in every note, and it is hard not to get infected by their enthusiasm. Whether the band will be considered as the ones to carry on the torch of decent Euro power metal or as a band which arrived too late to the party, only time will tell, but I hope for the former. In order to do that, some improvement will be due, but I see in them great potential.