Artist: Drakkar 
   Title: When Lightening Strikes
   Label: My Kingdom Music

This is the fifth album from the Italian power metal quartet, coming five years after their last album.  The album is slightly different in that it follows a story throughout, with each song highlighting a different part of a story on this 15-track album.

This story-led album is definitely different from anything being released at the moment.  The lighter, more heavy metal band play this with consummate skill and the knowledge that all know what is going on.  The story form is enhanced by the instrumental and the deft changes in vocals throughout.  The near-anthemic moments on some albums also highlight the skill used in putting this together.

This innovative album is easy to listen to, with the story being easy to follow.  The instrumental and the vocals mesh perfectly together, and the album as a whole is pretty good.  A difference in this is the use of a synth instead of drums but this only leads to the slight dream feeling throughout.  It’s also nice to hear a synth solo occasionally, so he is highlighted as well as the guitarist.  Although there is only a single guitarist, he is all that is needed as the bass and synth work perfectly behind him to create a bare bone beat to hang his riffs from.

A favourite track on the album is 'The Armageddon Machine', as instead on relying on the vocals it relies on the instruments, with both guitar and synth getting a solo in the song.  It also isn’t too long, and fits in with the story of the album.

Review by: Kerry H

Tracklisting:

1. Hyperspace - The Arrival
2. Days Of The Gods
3. The Armageddon Machine
4. In The Belly Of The Beast
5. Revenge Is Done
6. When Lightening Strikes
7. Winter Soldiers
8. Salvation
9. At The Flaming Shores Of Heaven
10. We Ride
11. The Awakening
12. My Endless Flight

All content copyright of The Mayfair Mall Zine unless otherwise stated.