Review Summary: I’ll see your guilty pleasures and raise you one throwback metal band.
Nostalgia is a difficult beast to tame. It’s almost human nature to anticipate the future with anxiety while reminiscing on the past with illusory fondness. And while it’s certainly nice to develop an appreciation for the things we previously took for granted, we should also keep an open mind when moving forward through the vast turbulence of life. This type of reflection comes to mind when considering the recent boom of throwback metal bands, more commonly known as the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal. The basic premise is that many groups are either stuck in the 80’s or simply long for a revival of bands the likes of Judas Priest, King Diamond, Angel Witch and Iron Maiden. Among this growing cult is Finnish sextet Battle Beast, wielding a shameless dose of power/hair metal that would make any of their forefathers blush hot pink.
Bringer of Pain marks the fourth chapter in Battle Beast’s young catalog, and it comes bearing a cover art that looks like a
Temple of Doom extra crossed with Megadeth’s Super Collider. If that has you confused, don’t worry, the music is totally tame. The package comes complete as soon as album opener “Straight to the Heart” barrels its hairy head forward, setting the stage with a little beef, a bit of glitter and a whole lot of cheese. In other words, if you thought Quiet Riot and Overkill could’ve used a little Turbo-era Priest with the cleanliness (but not the spirit) of today’s production, chances are you’ll be in heaven with
Bringer of Pain. Everything from the seen-it-all-before guitar riffs, constant accompaniment of keyboards and synthesizers, and singer Noora Louhimo’s snarling vocals contribute to an utterly glamorous vision of 80’s spirit. Not to be outdone, the lyrics strengthen this aroma (or stench, depending on the listener) with lines comparing a “bad king” to a “dreadful puppet” and the chorus to “Bastard Son of Odin” chanting:
Bastard son of Odin
Born to kick your ass
Bastard son of Odin
Living hard and driving fast
Bastard son of Odin
Sworn to fight and die
Bastard son of Odin
To Valhalla soon will ride
Based on the above factors, it’d be easy to regard
Bringer of Pain as an overly spoiled petri dish. And while it’s undoubtedly easy to make a mockery of, Battle Beast feel too self-aware and carelessly embracing to take all that seriously. Even on the occasion that Louhimo utilizes her more traditional singing voice, such as “Dancing with the Beast,” we get an even stronger dose of synth to make sure our cholesterol doesn’t drop. The closest we get to a song breaking the fold is “Lost in Wars,” which features Tomi Joutsen, whose presence from Amorphis can be felt regardless of whether he’s singing or not. From a purely objective standpoint, this is the album’s highlight. However, to reiterate, Battle Beast aren’t concerned with being anything other than a fun throwback band. While they do succeed at being entertaining, this subsequently begs a glance at the sword’s other edge, which is to say: what place do they have then?
Music is already ripe with imitators no matter what genre you examine, and heavy metal is evidently no exception. To compound, many seek to relive the so-called “glory days” enjoyed during a more youthful time, leading to a surge in nostalgia-catering entertainers. Where other bands like Enforcer grab and control the beast with a familiar yet strong grip, Battle Beast seem to be performing tributes for the same beast in an attempt to keep it amused. Nothing wrong with that in and of itself, but when it comes to leading the pack and setting the example, these Finns ultimately come up short.
