For those who liked the album 'Blood on Blood' by the Germans of 'Running Wild', in the same style and being released on the same day, here are the French of 'Hopes of Freedom' who release a third studio recording 'Light, Fire & Iron', which closes the trilogy started with 'Hopes of Freedom' from 2013 and whose second instalment after 'Burning Skyfall' was from 2016. In epic and energetic power metal, they offer us 10 compositions including a long final development of more than 15 minutes and, like the Germans, you don't have to look for sophisticated music because 'Light, Fire & Iron' is full of immediate and unstoppable melodies that immediately get stuck in your head. And it's off to a blistering start with 'Lost Humanity' with its memorable chorus and rich backing vocals, followed by an equally energetic 'Dragon Order' which unfurls another addictive melody that makes you want to sing along, then 'The Heroes Line' kicks it into high gear with another stadium-singing chorus, as does the anthemic 'Freedom for All' with its "hohoho" that should be a big hit in concert. The album continues with tracks that are all equally energetic, including the follow-up 'A Tale Of Glory', the first part of which takes us on a power ballad with folk accents and the addition of bagpipes, and which has a second part that is more upbeat and follows the same musical pattern. And we won't miss the eponymous track of the album with a saga bringing a good dose of progressive to this epic power metal sublimated by folk sounds and a new addictive melody. In short, without reinventing the wheel, the Frenchmen of 'Hopes of Freedom' offer us an excellent album filled with memorable melodies and if you like a power metal without headaches and accessible at the first listening, you should without any doubt adhere to 'Light, Fire & Iron'... | |
