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Beyond Fallen is one of those bands that you know are killer right from the first listen. As the Spires Fall is the third full-length by the Pennsylvania natives, but my first experience with the band, so I wasn't sure what to expect.

So imagine my surprise when I saw glimpses of Attacker, early 2000s Agent Steel and even Pharaoh in the album's sound, but without losing its personality or trying to emulate those bands in any way. The attitude and versatility of all members – especially of vocalist Joseph Karavis – are the main weapons used here, making the effort feel diverse and fresh. Songs like "Return of the Sky Gods" and "Seven Scorpions" are an invitation to get your ass out of the chair and bang your guts out, while the aggressive parts in "Bodybreaker", for instance, evocate that Agent Steel vibe I mentioned earlier and provide a certain amount of seriousness and sense of urgency.

Being visceral, straightforward and even melodic at times, Beyond Fallen's third output is almost a crime to not listen to. Great harmonies and potent choruses remind us of the great Heavy Metal bands of the heydays and the sheer energy that emanates from the tunes are more than enough to put it in a respectable position in the genre this year, let alone the cool stories and highly competent songwriting embedded in the tracks. Absolutely mandatory for fans who like some raw power in their daily dose of Heavy Metal.