Kev Rowland The debut album from Swedish act Lancer is a rather pleasant romp through power metal a la Halloween or Hammerfall, and feels fresh and vibrant. These guys are a real find, with singer Isak Stenvall being a definite talent – he has a great range and boy can he hit those high notes. But, I am not sure if they have had the right producers at work here. I’m not sure if the final product is exactly how the band normally sound as there is a feeling that he heaviness has been taken away to some extent and that they have moved more into a melodic rock area, almost AOR, as opposed to thumping along with the guitars soaring and the drum and bass driving them through.

It is an album that I have enjoyed immensely, but there is a definite feeling of 80’s production and I want to hear the guitars with way more edge. The interplay between Peter and Fredrik is great, and I am sure that in the live environment they are probably quite some force, but there is a feeling of power metal-lite as opposed to ball crunching sounds and passion. But, I have enjoyed playing this album a great deal, but if there was less pop and more metal than I know I would have enjoyed it even more.

Time Signature Young and alive...

Genre: traditional heavy metal

Another agent in the current Swedish wave of retro heavy metal, Lancer recently released their eponymous debut album, proving that old school metal is very much alive and still has a lot to offer (in fact, I think old school metal has more to offer than a lot of modern metal, but that is a discussion for another day).

Drawing in particular on NWoBHM, Lancer make extensive use of twin guitars on their debut album, which automatically scores them a lot of points in my book, since I am a sucker for twin guitar leads. With its use of classic metal chord progressions, galloping bass lines, and at times soaring vocals, there definitely seems to be a heavy Iron Maiden influence on the album, without Lancer being a bunch of copycats.

That being said, there is another dimension to Lancer's debut album, which is grounded in early European power metal (that is, before it became silly and cheesy). Specifically the chorus lines have the same epic and catchy feel to them as heard in Euro power metal, many of the vocal deliveries being, melody-wise, reminiscent of the two Kiske-fronted "Seven Keys" classics. Moreoever, several tracks have that typical Euro power metal energy - just check out 'Young and Alive', 'Dreamchasers', and 'Mr. Starlight', now that's how I like my Euro power metal.

Lancer's debut, with its traditional metal and early Euro-power metal aesthetics should appeal to both fans of classic metal and power metal fans who prefer the early kind of cheese-free power metal.

J-Man Sporting a sound that borrows from classic British heavy metal and German power metal, the self-titled debut from Swedish act Lancer is an album that sounds totally old school from all fronts. The epic choruses, thunderous riffs, and neoclassical solos all transport the listener to the glory days of eighties' metal, so fans of acts like Iron Maiden or Helloween should have no trouble finding plenty to like here. Lancer isn't an album that sounds particularly unique when put next to all of the other 'retro' heavy metal releases, but it is executed with enough conviction to make for a recommendable listen.

As previously mentioned, Lancer plays melodic power metal that draws from German power metal acts like Helloween or Gamma Ray and NWoBHM acts like Iron Maiden. This is a style that has been done to death recently, but Lancer still does a good job at delivering solid compositions within the confines of the genre. Although it's not something that will set the world on fire, Lancer contains enough memorable choruses, kick-ass riffs, and blistering leads to largely make up for its rather safe approach. I have a tough time imagining a classic metal fan that wouldn't enjoy the hell out of tracks like "Purple Sky", "Deja Vu", and especially the epic "Between the Devil and the Deep".

At the end of the day, Lancer is not a must-have release due to its rather unadventurous attitude, but this could actually be an asset to the album if you miss the days of eighties' melodic metal. Lancer faithfully delivers the style with some really great tunes, and if you're in search of old school power metal, this wouldn't be a bad place to look at all.

adg211288 Back in 1987, a German band called Helloween pioneered the so called European sound of the power metal genre with a pair of albums called Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I & II. Although these two albums laid much of the groundwork for the countless bands and variations on the genre that would follow, with the possible exception of the related band Gamma Ray, nothing has ever come out that has really matched the feel of the two Keeper albums. It was power metal but with a strong vibe of 80’s heavy metal not unlike what you’d expect to hear from the more traditional bands that were around at the time, particular out of the NWoBHM. Power metal seemed to quickly evolve to have what could be seen as a typical sound, and even Helloween themselves never made another album that captured quite the same sound. As I said, Gamma Ray, formed by former Helloween member Kai Hansen, may be the exception as their classic album Land of the Free has often been considered to be Keeper of the Seven Keys Part III, but no one else has come even close to matching that same sound. Until now that is. Enter the Swedish band Lancer and their self-titled debut full-length (2013), which boasts of a sound that could easily claim to be a lost Helloween album from the time between Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II and the less highly acclaimed Pink Bubbles Go Ape.

Lancer’s debut contains perhaps a bit more traditional heavy metal than either of Helloween’s classics, but the basis of what pioneered power metal is all here and present and correct. Power metal basically translates as fast melodic music, and that’s pretty much what you get with Lancer. At the same time there is plenty of inspiration to be heard from classic metal, both with some of the riffs and as with Keepers I & II, the overall vibe of the music. This music is old school and unashamed of it. Old school power metal isn’t something you hear of really, when the term comes it its usually ‘old school heavy metal’ or ‘old school death metal’, so Lancer comes across as something which by definition is the same, but as far as this revivalist stuff goes, it’s surprisingly fresh, and the songs are damn great as well. Stuff like Purple Sky and Mr. Starlight come across as anthems that will stick with you a long time. A few parts of the album put me more firmly in mind of a more modern power metal sound, where the fast riffs stand out above all else, such as Young & Alive. Finally you get a few tracks much more traditional metal orientated, like Between the Devil and the Deep.

Lancer has a great energy on this album, which has produced no bad songs. They are equally competent playing in both the heavy and power metal styles and mix and match the two up seamlessly. While the album never really manages to stand out as being anything beyond great, there is plenty of nostalgic value to be found here as there is with any old school release worth its salt. Better yet is that despite the old school feel Lancer doesn’t feel at all dated. A great album rating is deserved.

83/100

(Originally written for Heavy Metal Haven (http://metaltube.freeforums.org/lancer-lancer-t2720.html))