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Beriedir is a power metal band out of Italy with a few twists to the music they offer up on their second album, AQVA. They have the speedy drumming, interwoven guitar and keyboard melodies and high, clear vocals expected but they add some progressive and even electronic elements. The keyboard playing is more complex than you typically hear in power metal, where they tend to be relegated to big flourishes and rounding out sounds. I wouldn't say they are as technical, but at points bands like Icycore came to mind. Songs like "The Drowned" feature a slow tempo and dreamy vocal lines along with a spaced-out vibe to the songwriting that evoked Monsterworks and even Voïvod, if either band played power metal. Of course, straight up power metal is the main course on AQVA and songs like "Stormbound" race along at top speed with an infectious chorus worthy of Serenity when they are on their game. It's a truly entertaining album that doesn't sound exactly like everything else out there but doesn't stray so far that it becomes something else. "Technical" and "happy" don't seem like they'd make for good friends in the power metal arena, but Beriedir make it work well.