RSS Feed


SOULHEALER
Up From The Ashes

Rockshots (2018)
Rating: 8/10

With more gloss than a Rimmel make-up advert comes Finnish rockers SoulHealer. This is a band I’ve ignored – not intentionally – since their inception in 2009, and didn’t realise that since then they’ve released a handful of records. The last, Bear The Cross, was four years ago, however. But I thought I’d give this new release a go, having not been familiar with the band.

I was sort of expecting something all too shiny and new, but SoulHealer – while very much polished – still play hard, heavy and melodic metal with that distinctly European feel. So, we get high-rising harmonies that form catchy choruses and what leads us to such glorious moments are the scorching, driving dynamics consisting of Teemu Kuosmanen’s guitar work. Since being joined by JiiPee Haikola, they’ve formed quite a fiery team.

Dive in then to the likes of ‘Fly Away’, ‘Sins Of My Father’, ‘The Final Judgement’ and ‘Am I In Hell’ which fuse together traditional power metal aesthetics with traditional metal ramblings. At the forefront of this accessible and often majestic potency is vocalist Jori Kärki, whose style is clear yet sweet on the eyes; his tone sits perfectly with whatever tempo the unit chooses. For example, a track such as ‘Pitch Black’ brings pace and energy, and yet his vocals seem to caress the guitar sound as Timo Immonen’s drums bruise.

Then though, the band goes for extra weight and punch with ‘The Final Judgement’ or the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal-styled traits of ‘Prepare For War’, but all that is offered up have a sort of Manowar majesty – plenty of power, plenty of punch and enough choruses to really dig their heels in.

My favourite of the bunch has to be ‘Sins Of My Father’, which adopts a mid-tempo grace and really ups the game in regards to supplying an anthemic quality. One can’t help but hum along to the tracks, and that’s after just one listen. Just check out the Iron Maiden-esque values of ‘Through Fire And Ice’ which I’ve had stuck in my head for days, the band once again dropping the tempo to deliver a steely stomp.

The mixing of NWOBHM standards and classic power metal ingredients is sublime, but then at the other end of the spectrum we have the fine ‘Behind Closed Doors’. This one has the feel of a ballad, although it doesn’t quite fully flirt with such a notion. And yet, it still remains a powerhouse of a tune in its tenderness, but it’s a return to type for closer ‘Land Of The Free’ which brings that galloping, thunderous attack to the ears.

Up From The Ashes is a very good power metal record that utilises essential ingredients required to make a modern metal record work. I’m glad I finally took the time out to listen to SoulHealer, and if you’re not familiar with them, then so should you.

Neil Arnold

<< Back to Album & EP Reviews



Related Posts via Categories
Share