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You can always rely on Mystic Prophecy to dish up some truly riff-tastic Heavy Metal, and on their sixth opus, the belligerent Fireangel, the Greek/German outfit once again fails to disappoint. Having drifted for years among bigger names like a disorbited satellite, R.D. Liapakis and his crushing metal machine continue to push their dark, thrashy brand of European Power Metal into greater spheres of heaviness with each release, and since the departure of axe legend Gus G way back when, Mystic Prophecy have proven that their right to a seat in the metal house of lords is truly deserved, with both Savage Souls and Satanic Curses being fine examples of Liapakis' uncompromising fortitude. Picking up where those albums left of, Fireangel is again brim-filled with massive, chugging melodies, memorable, anthemic refrains, and the raspy yet resonant voice of Liapakis himself, whose subjective vocals fit the blackened score like studded leather glove.

As usual, there is a subtle demarcation between darkness and light, with many of the seriously heavy attempts boasting powerfully melodic choruses and flaming lead work – although none quite acquire the grace which their third album Never Ending inspired – and with the great Fredrik Nordstrom behind the knobs and a production harsher than man-thong made of nettles, Fireangel – with songs as vicious as "Across The Gates of Hell" and the savage "We Kill, You Die" – is a reliable and safe album from one of the genre's most underground players, but there is nothing new to be discovered here, just a darn good exercise in feral neck-snapping.