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Whoa mamma! For anyone weeping over the death of the Gothenburg metal glory days, here’s a nice pick me up courtesy of The Duskfall, the entity formed post Gates of Ishtar going splitsville. An exuberant collection of intensity, heart and nostalgia rage forth from the band’s highly regarded debut album Frailty. A misleading title for sure, as the confidence and technical proficiency showcased within reveals no signs of weakness in the wake of some of the earlier greats of the genre turning into MTV pop stars.

The obvious comparisons are here of course, with hints of the usual suspects poking around the album. But this music is played out with such genuine desire, as if The Duskfall pushed itself perhaps to the same levels the likes of Dark Tranquillity, In Flames and the others would have at the fledgling stages of the Gothenburg scene’s existence. This is about rising above the overflow of bands and giving melodic-death a real shot in the arm. I couple this band along with Detonation to be among the young leaders who will inherit the roots of melodic-death as they become fading memories to the once essential bands involved.

The guitar sounds are obviously familiar, chugging along this way and that churning through deadly precise riffs over super-tight drumbeats, breaking into passionate melodies.

Alongside the five already highly capable members of the group are studio maestro Daniel Bergstrand and a lineup of guest musicians, including Magnus Olsson who contributed all of the guitar solos on Frailty. Ya, it’s a little weird to have an outsider do all of your solos. Nonetheless, The Duskfall and friends deliver a marvelous record that is a nice treat for fans of the Swedish classics, but at the same time like being smacked in the face with something fresh too.