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Dark Hours, the latest release from Sweden's Lion's Share, combines a modern day production with a big nod to the 80s metal sound. Bands like Metal Church, Armored Saint and especially Dio jump to mind, helped along by lead singer Nils Patrick Johansson, who sounds more than a little bit like Ronnie James himself.

Dark Hours opens with one of the best, and certainly the fastest, track on the album, "Judas Must Die." Blistering riffing from guitarist Lars Christmansson along with a superbly catchy chorus will have you singing this one long after the album has ended. The next four songs ("side 1", if you will, since we're referencing the 80s) are all excellent, with more riffing, soloing and lots of bottom end. "Heavy Cross to Bear" exemplifies this with its slow tempo and "Egypt (the Chains are On)" vibe. Unfortunately, on "side 2," Dark Hours starts to fade a bit. The uninspired tracks "Full Metal Jacket" and "The Presidio 27" lead into the amazingly UN-metal-titled "Barker Ranch" creating a trio of rather "meh" songs. Things start to pick up again with "Napalm Nights" and the album finishes off more in the vein of the first half.

Taken as a whole, Dark Hours is a fun listen, the kind of metal that makes you want to get up and play air guitar or throw the horns up. Even the few lows (and how many of those 80s albums were stellar all the way through?) shouldn't scare you off. No ground is being broken, and that is kind of Dark Hours appeal. All the hallmarks of quality Heavy Metal are present from outstanding vocal work to shredding solos to a thunderous rhythm section. This is a worthy addition to your Heavy Metal library.