Review by JD on January 12, 2015.

Hell’s Guardian fell on to my desk and in looking at the cover that stares up at me it seems like I got another European power metal act. Well… I was right and… umm… wrong as well, but all of the info was confusing as hell as well. Lemme explain here.

Formed in 2009 in Italy, Hell’s Guardian seemed to be more than what they were trying to be. Deemed a melodic death metal band by some people and sites, this band seems to be classified way off wrong just because of the vocals. It is more along the lines of power metal mixed with some folk metal and NWOBHM era simplicities along with those nasty blowtorch vocals that ring death metal.

Songs like the sweeping 'Forgiving in the Night' and the Iron Maiden meets power metal of 'Neverland' are catchy and powerful while the explosions of death vocals seem to bring a different flavor to the mix - the results are glorious to behold. Despite being somewhat repetitive in places, the album as a whole is a great work of metallic art.

This is solid music from beginning to end, and I think the next album will be a progression into something even more amazing. With the right producer to fatten the sound up and get the music pointed in the proper position for a kill shot, and a wee bit of maturity only time can give – this Italian band will be a force nobody can ever overlook.

Rating: 8 out of 10