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BEAST
Ancient Powers Rising

Self-released (2024)
Rating: 7.5/10

Galloping in traditional metal style, Ancient Powers Rising is the sturdy debut full-length outing from Osnabrück, Germany-based foursome Beast. To be honest, I expected this album to be one of those contemporary soulless creations and yet my frosty scepticism was soon melted by the calming vocals of frontman Philipp Rethmann who leads his gang like a more nonchalant, low end King Diamond.

There’s a real confidence and maturity with these eight songs in spite of the familiar strides within the contours. Not necessarily nostalgic or even throwback in its vibe, Beast’s debut casually lopes with genuine mystique and intrigue, particularly on ‘In The Name Of The Horned One’ which reminds me of a steely Marillion in parts, while some of the guitars boast an almost dissonant effect.

Opener ‘Behead The Dragon’ is the band in brisk mode as each melody maintains constant levels of warm accessibility. The fact that this album surprised me so much is what’s kept me on board. Flecks of power metal fuse nicely with traditional thunder (‘Ride The Tempest’) while more aggressive combinations also flourish (‘Swords Are Burning’), but it’s just that fluidity throughout which enables the aura of this album to sizzle. Melodies soar and dance like flames, often fanned by unexpected metallic chugs and emphatic, ascending choruses (‘Kingdom Of Steel’).

The robust nature of Julian Kröger’s drums is still encased within a smooth shell of production, and the result is the rich title track that strides with a suave nature. Yes, there are shadows here of late 80s British metal aligned with something Swedish from a few years earlier alongside some New Wave Of British Heavy Metal-type fancies. It’s not extravagant but somehow cool, sublime even, as the epic ‘Mystery Of The Lonesome Rider’ drifts in on an enchanting, wistful acoustic before steadily churning like a spicy brew of Iron Maiden meets Manilla Road. It’s all so organically constructed as the combo shifts into edgier passages but it never overflows into something too crazed.

I’d best describe the sound of Beast as comforting metal, and yet it’s not a mimic of the past but just a rhythmic pulse of elegance and controlled energy culminating in rich, warming glows I last experienced with a band like Canada’s Spell.

Neil Arnold

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