Angel Sword - World Fighter (2024)

4★

The third release from this oddball Finnish band, and also their best so far! First things first, I love the cover art. The green is so vibrant and toxic and in many ways suits the music very well – vibrant but with some grit. Aside from the art, I think this may be their strongest in terms of riffs and melodies as well. Vocalist Jerry Razors is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think his Lemmy-style vocals are unique and fit the vibe of ANGEL SWORD. Furthermore, it’s apparent that his choruses have gotten much better, with the aforementioned strengthened melodic sense being a main theme across this album. Guitarist Mikko “Lightning Mike” Lindholm also just rips all over this album, with brilliant leads that take the listener on a sonic journey. Everything else is great as well, with driving rhythm work, fun and more meaningful lyrics, and especially the album’s length of only 32 minutes. If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at an unknown band writing an 80-minute record, ignore them and come listen to World Fighter instead.

FAVORITE TRACKS: “Vigilantes,” “Powerglove,” “World Fighter”

FOR FANS OF: Accept, Tank, Raven

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Originally published in Aug. '24 (Issue No. 4)