#27 - Top of 2019

Leverage - Determinus (Frontiers Records)

After a ten year break since the release their last album, Leverage are back demonstrating once again that Finnish bands really do know the secrets of creating memorable melodic heavy metal albums. Armed with an amazing new lead vocalist, Kimmo Blom, and a new guitarist, Mikko Salovaara, the band doesn't hesitate to shift between different musical sound with 70s-like opener titled "Burn Love Burn", a surprisingly catchy chorus into the more folky "Wind of Morrigan", which is also one of the most distinguished songs from the album and into the heavier "Tiger" which is dominated by Kimmo's high pitched vocals and a Rammstein-reminiscent vibe. These changes help the band maintain momentum having the listener wondering what twist wilbe coming next. The heavy metalled "Afterworld's Disciple", with a Dio/Heaven and Hell vibe mixed with a  power metal chorus, and the made-for-sing-alongs "Hand of God" with its acoustic guitar interlude are also quite unique tracks, demonstrating a huge array of diversity in the band's sound which is what makes this album a good release and a noteworthy entry in our top list!

93.9/100

Below is the music video for the song "Wind of Morrigan".