Time Signature Three-headed nerd attack...

Genre: power-speed metal

The fourth album from Italy's self-proclaimed army of nerds, Alltheniko's "Back in 2066 (Three Head Mutant Chronicles)" debunks any stereotypifying ideas you might have about Italian power metal.

Stereotypically, Italian power metal belongs to the cheesiest of the cheesiest Euro power metal and is seeped in keyboards, romance, and over-the-top operatic vocals, delivered by guyliner-wearing sleazebags. Well, not this trio of nerds. Drawing on old school speed metal and early power metal, Alltheniko explore much more tasteful - and totally cheese-free - power metal aesthetics.

Operating with well-defined riffs and catchy guitar melodies, Alltheniko have more in common with early Helloween and Rage than with the stereotypical type of Euro power metal. With elements of speed metal and traditional heavy metal, Alltheniko take cues the likes of Running Wild, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Accept and combine these inspirations into a type of power metal which is catchy and powerful, but also has a sense of rawness to it, which works extremely well to my ears.

The production is a bit fuzzy, and the musicianship is impeccable. The trio of nerds have a knack for operating with all the classic aesthetics of early power metal, and they perform with a great degree of precision. The guitar solos are masterful, and the over-the-top vocals remind me a bit of Rage's "Trapped!". Good stuff!

Fans of Rage, early Helloween, early Blind Guardian, as well as traditional 80s speed metal - who enjoy power metal, but not cheese - are likely to enjoy this album.