After years of success, the form of Power Metal that arose in the middle of the 90s became eroded and the trend that lasted from the second half of the 90s and the years of the new millennium lose its strength, just the titans are still relevant, and it's truly hard a new name to earn some success and respect (especially due the fact that digital medias turn the access to music easier, but people seems to be living under the 'power of the mark'). But these words don't mean that a new relevant name can't appear, as the Swedish quartet SAINT DAEMON shows with their fourth full length, "League of the Serpent". On the album, the listeners will deal with that melodic and seductive form of Power Metal that arose of creations of German acts as HELLOWEEN and GAMMA RAY, but with that 'Swedish Metal DNA' that's usual of bands of that country, plus some touches of Prog Metal (especially due some ethereal touches given by keyboards parts.

But one can check that they use some different elements as well (as the groove presented on some parts of "Lord of the Night"), and their approach is aggressive in many moments due the instrumental tunes. It's an honest album, full of energy and weight, showing a quartet with a strong personality on the songs, so what more the fans can ask for? Dive into it! As happened with their previous album, ("Ghost", released in 2019), the quartet again had Oscar Nilsson in the production and mixing, but with the mastering done by Tomas "Plec" Johansson. And they act in a way to give the album a modern and defined sonority, but always with an abrasive weight, even in the calm moments. It's really different from the common way (pay attention to the guitars during "A Lie to Be Undone" to have a clear idea of what these words mean). And what lovely artwork on the cover and it's a creation of Thomas Holmstrand.

There are 11 songs that will keep the hearers' attention easily, but especially on "At Break of Dawn" (a powerful and impacting Power Metal song with some Epic/Folk touches in many moments, with clean guitars' parts, and the vocals of Jan are really different and great, using in great shape both high and low tunes of his voice), "League of the Serpent" (this one has bears some traditional Power Metal traits, but the bone-smashing weight presented in some moments is amazing, especially due excellent guitar riffs and arrangements created by Toya), "The Final Fight" (a song with contrasts between aggressive parts with tender clean moments, some 80's Metal touches, and what great chorus), "A Lie to Be Undone" (a song that has a more accessible outfit, but keeping the band's musical way intact, and the strength and weighty presence of bass guitar and drums is sensible and very good, showing that Nobby and the new drummer Alfred get along perfectly), "Raise Hell" (another moment where the quartet imposes a bone-crushing weight on the hearers' ears, but with charming melodies), "Gates of Paradise" (the contrasts between classic Power Metal parts and abrasive moments is an excellent feature that they know how to use), and "Load Your Cannons". The entire album is great, and these are just for the first time on it.

Maybe one can say that SAINT DEAMON isn't recreating the genre, but no one can deny the value of their work shown on "League of the Serpent".