Sometimes, a veteran headbanger will throw his/her admirers a major curve ball. The rap-metal/alternative metal that
Tommy Lee offered on his
Methods of Mayhem project of 1999, for example, was a total departure from the decadent Sunset Strip boogie that his former band,
Mötley Crüe, was best known for in the '80s. But other times, metal's veterans celebrate their past, which is what
Mercyful Fate alumni Michael Denner and Hank Shermann do on
Force of Evil's self-titled debut album. The Danish's band's three other members are lead singer Martin Steene (of Ironfire fame), drummer Bjarne Holm (who joined
Mercyful Fate in 1995 -- long after their '80s heyday), and bassist Hal Patino (best known for backing
Mercyful Fate's original lead singer,
King Diamond, after he went solo). When four of a band's five members have some connection to either
Mercyful Fate the band or
King Diamond the solo artist, one expects a dose of '80s-style metal -- and that is exactly what
Force of Evil provide on this release. From the gothic, occult-minded themes to
Force of Evil's amplified sense of melody, this album sounds like it could have been recorded in 1984 or 1985 instead of 2003. But if the material (which is power metal bordering on thrash) is less than groundbreaking,
Force of Evil still deserve credit for craftsmanship. Like
Mercyful Fate,
Force of Evil don't govern by brute force alone. They're loud and forcefully aggressive, but they're also quite melodic, intricate, and musical -- and, of course, that is exactly how one would describe
Mercyful Fate and
Diamond as well as
Iron Maiden,
Queensrÿche,
Judas Priest, and many other power metal bands that were popular in the '80s.
Force of Evil's debut isn't in a class with
Mercyful Fate's most essential '80s recordings or
King Diamond's best solo output, but it's a solid and enjoyable, if derivative, effort that will appeal to headbangers who still can't get enough of classic '80s power metal. ~ Alex Henderson