In 2019, Finnish power metal act METAL DE FACTO promised us they’d make power metal great again, and with the release of their debut effort, “Imperium Romanum,” they took a step in the right direction. In 2022, the band announced a lineup change and introduced their new singer Aitor Arrastia to us. They are now ready to release their second chapter in conquering the hearts of power metal fans with the first installment of what was promised to be a two-part album, “Land of the Rising Sun – part 1,” ready to be released on February 9th, 2024, via Rockshots Records.
The album opens with the power metal anthem, “Rise Amaterasu,” featuring neo-classical keyboards and a striking scream by the new vocalist, Aitor Arrastia, at the very start of things. Arrastia’s vocals carry a traditional power metal sound that harmonizes seamlessly with the band’s musical style. This track serves as an energetic opener to the album, characterized by its speed and drive to proper forward, complemented naturally by a solid guitar solo; an added bonus.
“Code of the Samurai” stands out as one of the band’s catchiest tunes, with an infectious chorus. Despite its lyrical content, the song exudes a motivating attitude, that leaves you with a smile. We already heard this song live during summer and it was an instant hit. Aitor Arrastia effortlessly reaches the high notes, adding to the track’s appeal.
As the album winds down with “Heavier Than A Mountain,” I – I’m typically not a fan of ballads or slower songs – was captivated by its beautiful chorus due to both the melody and the lyrics, and the beautiful things that keyboardist Benji Klint-Connely is doing with his instrument, he is adding a very elegant touch to the song, in his own style, which gives the track a little depth. The keyboard solo is quintessentially Benji, which also makes it a little more dynamic and playful despite its melancholic and slower character. The song really fits nicely into the flow of the record after the two bursts of energy we started with.
“Slave to Power” begins with a brilliant bass intro by Sami Hinkka, reminiscent of Steve Harris. Departing from IRON MAIDEN, the song takes on a more HELLOWEEN-esque style, driven by Atte Marttinen’s galloping rhythms. The rhythmic build-up in the bridge and melodic chorus, adorned with subtle keyboards, adds to its appeal.
The following track, “Divine Wind,” starts with a more dramatic guitar riff, which even sounds a little ominous and spooky. It introduces a different vocal palette from Aitor Arrastia, who is also continuing the song’s dramatic character in the lyrics, annunciating more clearly, and really going all-in on the storytelling. The dramatic guitar riff sets a mysterious tone, with a captivating voice-over by Tapio Wilska leading to an excellent keyboard-vocal battle. The song’s dynamic shifts and subtle tempo changes make it a standout, the positive note the song literally ends with is also just heartwarming.
“Tame the Steel” returns to a more straightforward structure, featuring catchy vocals and a somewhat danceable rhythm. The contrast between the heaviness of the guitars and Benji’s light keyboard melodies provides added dynamics. The final chorus promises a great moment of participation during live shows, where I could definitely see the audience joining in with the backing vocals.
“Superstars” opens up in a very different manner, resembling the twists and turns of something that Arjen Lucassen would write (I’m thinking specifically of “Lost Children of the Universe” by STAR ONE). Evolving into a serious, guitar-oriented track, the backing vocals in the chorus offer more potential audience participation during their performances. While this is a mostly guitar-oriented track where keyboards take the backseat, Benji does offer a bit of accents here and there, which contribute a lot to the song’s atmosphere despite being subtle. The proggy drum elements during the guitar solos and a compelling C-part where you can just imagine yourself shouting a lot contribute to the track’s charm.
While “Superstars” totally could have been a fitting album closer, METAL DE FACTO are a power metal band, which means naturally the only choice is to opt for the 12-minute epic, “47 Ronin,” the band’s own “Keeper of the Seven Keys.” The masterful execution, smooth time signature changes as well as several key changes, and the many atmospheric elements make it compelling. Atte Marttinen really shines as a drummer and exceeds expectations by doing things differently and experimenting a little, which adds great dynamics overall (in the whole album). Aitor’s power metal screams, keyboard transitions, and a “Bohemian Rhapsody”-like twist show the band’s versatility and skillful songwriting. Additionally, the song is bound together by another contribution from Tapio Wilska who once again delivered a stellar voice-over.
METAL DE FACTO once again delivered what they promised by successfully focusing on delivering the epic sound of traditional power metal, rooted in many European influences. This band isn’t reinventing the wheel by any means, but they are just simply honoring the music that they love, and they do that very very brilliantly. The addition of Aitor Arrastia – who Esa Orjatsalo described as the child of Michael Kiske and Ralf Scheepers during our interview in the summer – enhances the band’s sound with some additional Spanish fury. The album being more of a collaborative effort, meant that often you can hear each of these musicians’ musical DNA, which makes it a very playful album at times. Altogether, it raises the bar in the power metal scene, establishing “Land of the Rising Sun – part I” as a worthy successor to “Imperium Romanum.” With “Land of the Rising Sun – part I,” METAL DE FACTO didn’t make power metal great, they made it magnificent.
Written by Laureline Tilkin
Tracklist
1. Rise Amaterasu
2. Code of the Samurai
3. Heavier Than a Mountain
4. Slave to the Power
5. Divine Wind
6. Tame the Steel
7. Superstars
8. 47 Ronin
Lineup
Vocals: Aitor Arrastia
Guitars: Esa Orjatsalo
Guitars: Mikko Salovaara
Bass: Sami Hinkka
Keyboards: Benji Connelly
Drums: Atte Marttinen
Label
Rockshots Records
