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“Throw your worries into the next trash can, at least for 38 minutes and sing, dance, headbang, do whatever feels right!”
As far as press release blurb goes, that description from Nuclear Blast Records about the latest release from Finnish sextet Battle Beast hits the nail square on the head. The album in question, ‘Steelbound’, coaxes so many different reactions out of the listener that it makes heads spin from the opening onslaught of ‘The Burning Within’ to the final strains of ‘Watch The Sky Fall’, 38 minutes later.
Perhaps it’s the classic metal-tinged album cover that first sparks the comparison, but there is a definite Judas Priest feel about the opening seconds of album opener ‘The Burning Within’. The drum hits that count the band in and then explode to life, the breakneck dual guitar riffage, oh my, this is primo Metal Gods territory. It would be fascinating to hear an instrumental version of this, as no doubt it would slap. But then again, that would mean isolating the incredible vocals from the peerless Noora Louhimo, who simply gets better with each outing, be it Battle Beast or the more commercial project with fellow powerhouse vocalist Netta Laurenne, known as Laurenne/Louhimo. Somewhat surprisingly, it seems that not only does ‘The Burning Within’ not open the current live set, but it doesn’t seem to feature at all. Then again, Battle Beast have so many bangers that they could play for 3 hours each night and still not please everyone.
The playful, fun, and Eurovision aspect of Battle Beast shines through during utterly infectious moments such as ‘Here We Are’, the title track itself, and ‘Angel of Midnight’ (all are so 80s fuelled – thanks to the pacey keys sound – that they come wearing legwarmers rolled down to the ankles). But what Battle Beast excel at is retaining that metal bite to keep headbangers interested. On the title track, it’s the fizzing guitar solo – that leads into a harsher breakdown, complete with gang backing vocals, ear-piercing screams from Louhimo, and powerful hits from drummer Pyry Vikki – that first pricks up the Metalized ears.
How does Battle Beast follow that up? With the Latin-infused ‘Twilight Cabaret’, that’s how. A fantastic standalone single with some catchy Mambo-esque rhythms that are futile to resist, this one is on the setlist, and expect copious amounts of dance-like-nobody-is-watching to break out. Pyry Vikki controls the pace expertly, as he does in a more traditional style on the thrilling ‘Last Goodbye’ that follows on.
After mid-album instrumental ‘The Long Road’, Battle Beast are back on traditional power-metal territory with the stirring call-to-arms of ‘Blood of Heroes’, which packs a bounce, as well as some Celtic-tinges here and there. The arrangements and vocals are HUUUUUUUUUGE on this one, and expect copious amounts of beer to fly through the sky when this one drops live.
This is an album that doesn’t hang around like so many albums do today. Never overstaying its welcome; it’s a case of get in, do the business, and get out while the audience are wondering what the hell just hit them. The Finns have done it again. What an enviable run of top-quality albums they are on.
‘Steelbound’ is available now via Nuclear Blast Records, purchase HERE.
Review – Dave
Cover image – Photo Credit: Marek Sabogal
All other images – Photo Credit: Jarmo Katila
All remaining tour dates can be found below:
04-Nov-25 Germany, Hannover – Capitol
05-Nov-25 Denmark, Roskilde – Gimle
06-Nov-25 Sweden, Huskvarna – Folkets Park
07-Nov-25 Sweden, Gothenburg – Trädgårn
08-Nov-25 Sweden, Stockholm – Fryshuset Arenan
09-Nov-25 Norway, Oslo – Rockefeller Music Hall
Finland Tour 2025:
14-Nov-25 Finland, Oulu – Tullisali
15-Nov-25 Finland, Helsinki – Icehall
20-Nov-25 Finland, Turku – Logomo
21-Nov-25 Finland, Tampere – Nokia Arena
28-Nov-25 Germany, Leipzig – Felsenkeller – Ballsaal
29-Nov-25 Germany, Nuremberg, Löwensaal
30-Nov-25 Austria, Vienna – Arena Wien
01-Dec-25 Slovakia, Bratislava – Majestic Music Club
02-Dec-25 Hungary, Budapest – Barba Negra Red Stage
03-Dec-25 Slovenia, Ljubljana – Cvetlicarna d.o.o.
05-Dec-25 Germany, Munich – TonHalle
06-Dec-25 Switzerland, Pratteln – Z7 Konzertfabrik
07-Dec-25 Italy, Trezzo sull’Adda – Live Club
09-Dec-25 Switzerland, Lausanne – Metropole
10-Dec-25 Germany, Saarbrücken – Garage
12-Dec-25 Germany, Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle
13-Dec-25 Czech Republic, Zlin – Sports Hall Datart
14-Dec-25 Poland, Warsaw – Progresja
Ticket info, HERE
BATTLE BEAST is:
Noora Louhimo | vocals
Eero Sipilä | bass
Joona Björkroth | guitars
Juuso Soinio | guitars
Janne Björkroth | keyboards
Pyry Vikki | drums
