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Evenstorm's The Return of the Storm is full of 80s-style straight-up Heavy Metal with a bit of more modern, Blood of the Nations-style Accept thrown in the mix. The riffs are simple and effective while the lyrics ooze 80s metallic cheese. Singer/bassist Joe Ziegler sounds a lot like Peter De Wint from Belgium's Crossfire, but has a scream worthy of Udo Dirkschneider up his sleeve.

The faster, harder songs on The Return of the Storm work the best while the slower songs, like the ballad "Forsaken" and the simmering "Night of the Widow," lack spark. Up-tempo numbers like "Speed Ecstasy" or "Message" should have your raising your fist. The rest of the songs lie between those extremes.

Not a world beater by any stretch, The Return of the Storm has does have its moments and overall grades out somewhat generic, but better than average.