LANCER – Tempest

Six years after their previous release Mastery, the Swedish band of Classic Heavy Metal, Lancer is back to warm up, your summer even more with a new LP Tempest. With a bit of a change in the lineup, the band now includes Jack L. Stroem (Vandor) and Pontus Andrén respectively behind the mike and the drums. With these adjustments, Lancer 2.0 has put together 10 solid Heavy Metal songs.

Purest Power?

“Purest Power” is a strong opening title, playing on two atmospheres: the hammering bass (like the distant thunder of the Tempest approaching?) and the more melodic chorus and riffs, straight out of a Heavy Metal Golden Age.
The next songs “Fan The Flames” and “Entity” unfolds in the same vein. You would have to wait until “Out Of The Sun” for a sharp melodic turn: a definite highlight on the album. You then reach the eye of the storm, with the ballade title track “Tempest.” On this song, Jack L. Stroem seem to take vocal inflections from Crimson Glory’s Midnight.

The second half of the album still develops the mix of Classic and Melodic Heavy Metal with efficient riffs and soli. Regarding the production, Tempest sounds rather vintage and is not plagued by the overly clean and soulless productions of some recent releases. “The Grand Masquerade” finishes up the album on a strong note as well, with a great bass line and a more Hard Rock vibe.

Final Thoughts

Tempest is on the whole a good album, perhaps tasting a bit too classic to be truly memorable, but it retains essential qualities: well-executed melodies and catchy riffs.

Tempest – Tracklisting

1. Purest Power
2. Fan The Flames
3. Entity
4. Out Of The Sun
5. Tempest
6. Corruption
7. Blind Faith
8. We Furiously Reign
9. Eye For An Eye
10. The Grand Masquerade

Lancer – Lineup

Jack L. Stroem – Vocals
Per-Owe “Ewo” Solvelius – Guitar
Fredrik Kelemen – Guitar
Emil Öberg – Bass
Pontus Andrén – Drums