• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

I've seen Holy Grail described as "traditional Heavy Metal", but this is really a mix of Heavy and Power Metal, mixing a bit of the old with a lot of the new. The guitars especially will throw you in a rift in the space-time continuum that will have you going back and forth between the 80s and the 2000s – more of the latter. For example, opener "My Last Attack" is obviously more rooted in Power Metal circa 2000, while the second song "Fight to Kill" opens up with 80s glory but quickly turns into something more modern. Now that doesn't mean that this is bad, but I find it important to point out that this album is not nearly as old school as some people claim it to be.

The vocals are a bit of an acquired taste – it took me a few listens to get used to this guy, even though I had his vocal melodies stuck in my head just after the first listen. He's not bad at all, but his grating voice clashes a bit with the clean, upbeat vocal style he uses – and that the music calls for. Give it at least 3-4 listens before judging. The album as a whole is alright, though one can't help but think that it's a bit pedestrian songwriting-wise. It's a bit of a rollercoaster, with some wow-ing guitar work popping up here and there, side by side with some less than worthy moments that can make your teeth cringe.

Crisis in Utopia is a decent album, but is far from the "finest Heavy Metal album of the year" (and variations on the same theme) that some claim it to be (listen to a few more albums, people!) If you're looking for a no-nonsense, upbeat, energetic, catchy and entertaining Heavy/Power Metal album and don't mind the occasional rough edges, then this is a safe choice. It doesn't invent anything and won't blow your mind, but it has its charms.