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There are a lot of bands emulating the '80s in one or more ways, be it the sound, style, aesthetic, what have you, but few get it as right as France's Tentation has on their debut album, Le berceau des dieux (The Cradle of the Gods). From the denim vests and bullet belts in the promotional photo to the overall vibe of the album, which is spot-on early '80s, Tentation have hit the bullseye like Robin Hood in his competition with the Sheriff of Nottingham.

There are so many bands that I hear echoes of when listening to Le berceau des dieux, from Witch Cross to Tokyo Blade to Diamond Head to Malice, yet Tentation aren't ripping any of them off. They have masterfully executed their own distinct songwriting over the template those other bands, and so many more, pioneered 40 years ago. The vocals are clear and dressed up with period-appropriate echo, the bass has plenty of giddy up and there are dueling guitar harmonies and solos galore. The atmosphere is pure metal and even though I don't understand French, the language the songs are sung in, I just know the band is singing about cool shit. Songs like "Le couvent" will have you singing along, French-speaker or not, and if you don't break out the air guitar for the solo on "La chute des titans" you need to go back and listen again.

Le berceau des dieux is a bona fide heavy metal album in every way and only the modern production betrays it as something not created in the '80s. If you love the early days when metal was metal, when the NWOBHM and the early US scene before glam took over were in full swing, and the current crop of bands honoring the past like Visigoth, Eternal Champion and Megaton Sword, you need to check out Tentation. They kick ass.