REVIEW: Leverage - DeterminUs
26 April 2019, Frontiers Music slr
After a hiatus of 10 years, LEVERAGE is finally back to prove the Finnish metal scene that they still have the power to create hooky songs with a lot of power. After releasing a successful EP a couple of months, the band now is ready with their new album "DeterminUs" set for 26 April 2019 through Frontiers Music slr.
With "Burn Love Burn", it's immediately clear that the new vocalist KIMMO BLOM is exactly where he was supposed to be. Already from the start it's clear that there are a lot of elements put into the songs, guitars, folk melodies, intriguing passages followed by a compelling guitar solo. Is it easy to describe what LEVERAGE nowadays stand for? No... They're so much more than a hard rock, heavy metal, or power metal band. Often, some of the songs are ingenious, like for instance "Wind of Morrigan", which was our featured single a little while back.
There are two things remarkable about this song. One being the folk melody line that has been woven in the song from the beginning up until the end. Aside from that melody, the song has a very clear KANSAS-vibe to it (think of "Carry On Wayward Son"), especially when it comes to the vocal delivery of KIMMO BLOM. Both elements, however, are given a modern touch, drenched in that typical LEVERAGE sound. Talking about the vocals, KIMMO BLOM's work is truly exceptional, especially when the song comes to an end in the reprise bridge leading into an explosive chorus one more time. The combination of that folk melody, with the singing makes that the song has infectious melodies and a lot of power with a lot of hooks. Another highlight of the album is the previously released "Red Moon Over Sonora", which feels like it's slightly heavier on this album. The album has a great start, but then gets a bit stuck in filler material. No need to worry, these songs are still great, but they don't reach the level of for instance "Wind of Morrigan". The ending of the album makes up for the middle part, as "Heaven’s No Place For Us", "Hand of God", "Rollerball", and "Troy" again are very strong LEVERAGE tracks that rise the album to a higher level once again.
All-in-all the album is a great addition to the LEVERAGE discography, the two newest additions to the lineup KIMMO BLOM and MIKKO SALOVAARA work really well in the lineup. The album compromises of killer riffs, hooky melodies, powerful vocals and compelling song structures, and I do have to say that "Wind of Morrigan" is most probably going to be my all-time favorite song of 2019.
