THE STORYTELLER – The Final Stand (2025) *HQ*
Swedish metal band THE STORYTELLER return with their seventh full-length album, ”The Final Stand”, their first in over a decade. When everyone assumed they were done, the band is back 2025 in full force.
When we say ‘band’ it is a bit of a misnomer because as a one-man band, founder L.G. Persson seems to have changed members yet again. He has delivered a generous 13-song album that runs 65 minutes. After a protracted introduction featuring some orchestral sounds and some gentle acoustic guitar, we are launched into the Euro Power Metal stratosphere. The album races along the Metal highway as it should with excellent production and a nice mix in the instruments.
”The Final Stand” has some big backing gang vocals that help bolster the vocals of Persson. He does stay in the mid-ranges and had some nice grit and power in his delivery, but he is not an operatic style vocalist. He sings tales of epic battles, war and adventure in a high fantasy setting. Guitarist Cedrick Forsberg (Blazon Stone) plays to the song never too overstated or flashy. He had many decent solos and licks that match the style.
The whole album is characterized by good, straight-up Power Metal songs with melody.
‘That Eyes Cannot See’, ‘Tower Of Fear’, ‘Return Of The Thieves’, ‘Fields Of Blood And Steel’ are heavy, pumchy songs with some twists here and there. We get a brief reprieve with the acoustic led balled, ‘Sweet Lullaby’ in which Persson doesn’t sound too far away from Udo Dirkschneider at times. It’s a very pleasant tune.
‘They Will Fear Our Battlecry’ is more varied with strong folk elements, acoustic guitar, flute and even something that sounds like a mouth harp. Again, there is an elegant and undressed solo that fits the song nicely.
‘As The World Holds Its Breath’ is a brief and engaging introduction with epic sound effects preceding the title track which closes out the album at full force.
The new Storyteller album is a strong piece, a solid mix of guitar driven power metal and Nordic folk melodies. We can’t help but to think of the early Blind Guardian albums when we hear this – and that’s a good thing.
Highly Recommended
01 – Another Chapter Begins (Intro)
02 – It’s Storytime
03 – That Eyes Cannot See
04 – Tower Of Fear
05 – This Time Tomorrow
06 – Return Of The Thieves
07 – Fields Of Blood And Steel
08 – In The Shadows
09 – Sweet Lullaby
10 – By Oath And Blood (Bonus Track)
11 – They Will Fear Our Battlecry
12 – As The World Holds Its Breath
13 – Final Stand
L.G. Persson – Vocals
Cederick Forsberg – Guitars, Bass
Henrik Ohlsson – Drums
BUY
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