NEPTUNE – End of Time (2024)

NEPTUNE is a Melodic Metal band with a long and vibrant history dating back to the early 1980s. With influences from classic heroes such as Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Accept, during the 80s the band recorded several demo tapes which led into meetings with multiple record labels. Ultimately, one of these labels funded the recording of an EP that was never released, causing the band to lose momentum, and eventually split up for what was believed to be for good.
It wasn’t until 30 years later, specifically in 2018, that these recordings were released, which reignited the band’s passion, leading them to record a completely new album in 2020 entitled “Northern Steel” which still featured three original members from the 80s line-up.
Now, Neptune releases the album “End of Time” (via Pride & Joy Music), which brings back the classic sound from melodic metal golden era mixed with early ’80s hard rock – that type of vibrant guitars and analog keyboards. Some tracks even add an AORish touch.

The first track is ‘Metal Hearts’ and it’s a great start to the album. With elements of NWOBHM and mid-80s hard rock it immediately makes you sit up and take notice. The guitar solos of Anders Olsson are complemented by Johan Rost on keyboards (in a Deep Purple / early Ozzy style) and the strong vocals of Row Alex have power and range giving the song a real focus.
Next we have ‘Brightest Steel’ which starts off with another excellent guitar solo before the drums of Jonas Wikstrom anchor the song and, along with the thumping bass of Jan Tosh Anson give this a proper old school rock feel.

Title track ‘The End of Time’ is next and it has an atmospheric and epic flavour. ‘Revenge’ is appropriately militaristic with Wikstrom’s drums mimicking the marching feet of warriors looking to extract a full measure of revenge upon their enemies. It is perhaps the most immediate song on the album with its vision of an avenging army captured by the music and vocals.

‘Motherland’ is very melodic, where some AOR touches appear mixed with a like Celtic feel, and serves as an excellent counterpoint to the previous track with an air of satisfied honour as their mission has borne fruit.
‘Sun Goes Down’ is melodic metal at its best. It’s more upbeat than the previous tracks and has a strong echo of countrymen Europe circa 1984 which I really liked. The icing on the cake is a singalong chorus that will definitely go down well live.
‘Nepturion’ has an opening guitar lick that reminded me of Gimme, Gimme, Gimme by a slightly more famous set of Swedes. It takes the more epic feel of the first few tracks and marries that with a slower, more deliberate sound that works really well.

‘Power’ takes Neptune back to NWOBHM territory with a song that could easily sit on a Judas Priest album and which gives Alex another chance to really show off the power of his vocals, a power that seems to come without any straining.
Penultimate track ‘Highlands’ is another song with a powerful and effective chorus together with more excellent drumming by Wikstrom. Finally we come to ‘Northern Warriors’ an elegiac and effective ballad that serves as a superb finale to this album. It’s the only track that showcases the more reflective side of the group. Despite being atypical, or perhaps because of that, it is definitely a highlight.

Neptune may have taken a long time to get to this stage, but ‘End of Time‘ is an album that reflects a group of warriors that still has a lot to offer. It’s old-school metal, and well done.
Highly Recommended

01 – Metal Hearts
02 – Brightest Steel
03 – The end of time
04 – Revenge
05 – Motherland
06 – Sun goes down
07 – Nepturion
08 – Power
09 – Highlands
10 – Northern Warriors

Row Alex – Vocals
Anders Olsson – Guitars
Jan Tosh Ason – Bass & Vocals
Johan Rosth – Keyboards
Jonas Wikström – Drums

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www.amazon.co.uk/End-Time-Neptune/dp/B0DCDX42VF