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If you read my review of Masters of Disguise's EP, Knutson's Return, you know that the little peek these guys gave into what we could expect from their debut full-length, Back With a Vengeance, indicated we were in for some Thundersteel-era Riot-style US Power Metal. After listening to Back With a Vengeance, it is clear these guys sacrificed a burnt offering of a Gibson Les Paul to the Metal Gods in honor of Riot's late guitarist Mark Reale, and the Gods blessed Masters of Disguise with double-kick drums, flashy solos and high-pitched vocals the likes of which rarely come together in one place so well.

Masters of Disguise picked two of their best for the Knutson's Return EP, and those songs, "For Now and All Time (Knuston's Return)" and "Alliance," make another appearance on Back With a Vengeance. But these speedy, melodic ass-kickers aren't the only reasons Power Metal fans should be snapping this album up. "Scepters of Deceit," "Never Surrender" and "The Templar's Gold" are all in the same vein and show that Masters of Disguise has no use for slowing down or ballads. These songs aren't original but that isn't the point, not when they are this well played, well written and just plain fun. All the songs aren't gems but even "Liar" or "Into the Unknown," which sound a little stale, are enjoyable.

It should be plainly obvious that this is the kind of Heavy Metal that hits the sweet spot for me and I make no bones about that fact. I love this stuff and Masters of Disguise give me an entire album's worth. If you like Thundersteel or Walls of Jericho or any of the other albums that prize unrelenting speed, crunchy guitars and an overabundance of melody, Back With a Vengeance is for you.