NEW HORIZON – Gate of the Gods

What a kick-ass love letter to classic heavy metal this wildly catchy debut offering by the Swedish out­fit New Horizon is. Spearheaded by the inimitable Erik Grönwall (Skid Row, ex-H.E.A.T.) on vocals and multi-instrumentalist Jona Tee (H.E.A.T.), this gifted act delivers epic riffs, muscular songs, and glorious vocal melodies that recall the best parts of old-school heavy metal. Although the LP is hardly what one would deem original-sounding, there is so much passion, enthusiasm, and sheer joy coursing through it that it is impossible not to be swept away by its driven, thunderous material and the simple fact that it is an incredibly well-played and catchy output that offers a grand fucking time and plenty of headbanging entertainment. It sounds absolutely massive in places and you can easily tell that these dudes were having a ball when they wrote and recorded these tunes. Majestic heavy metal performed by pros…and who could possibly resist that charming album cover?!