Every time a Metal School is founded in a country, it earns new elements and becomes a unique expression of a specific Metal genre. An example: Power Metal was born in the axis Germany-USA during the early years of the 80s, and its echoes reached other countries, and then, it ignited new forms of Power Metal throughout the world. HELLOWEEN became a pioneer and reference on it, but it’s impossible to think on the genre without the contributions of BLIND GUARDIAN and IRON SAVIOR from Germany, ANGRA from Brazil; JAG PANZER and CRIMSON GLORY from USA, STRATOVARIUS from Finland, DRAKKAR and RHAPSODY OF FIRE from Italy, and others. Italian School is really amazing on the genre, with some names that aren’t as known as they deserve, as the quartet AIRBORN, from Turin, here with its seventh full-length, “Lizard Secrets: Part Three - Utopia”.

The production worked in a way to give the mixing and mastering of the album a formal and known formula for Power Metal sonority, with everything sounding clean and defined, with a cutting-edged appeal with thin and high tunes, but being heavy as well when needed. And it fits on their musical ideas. The artwork of the graphic artist Trevor Storey (who worked with the band on the other parts of “Lizard Secrets” trilogy) is truly amazing, with a clear appeal in the vein of “Blade Runner” films. It’s not a sin to say that the quartet works on a melodic and accessible Italian Power Metal way (and remembering that they’re in activity for almost the same time that RHAPSODY OF FIRE), with very good melodies and remarkable choruses (with those backing vocals in the vein of QUEEN). It’s obvious that such formula is already known, but with the Italian Power Metal DNA pulsing on the songs, to hear the album becomes a great experience, indeed. And when things have energy and identity, who cares if it’s new or old?

Bearing 12 excellent songs - with very good rhythmic shifts from bass guitar and drums, sharp guitar riffs and leads and very good vocals - it’s almost impossible for a Metal fan to stay stopped when dealing with “Kings of Melody”, “In Utopia”, “Forever is a Long Time Coming”, “Futuremaker”, “Midnight Riders”, “Magic Bullet”, “Oil’s Well That Doesn’t End Well”, “Soldiers of Misfortune”, “Skeleton Crew”, “Lizard Detective Agency”, “Steel Rat”, and “My Own World”. It’s not a sin to say that “Lizard Secrets: Part Three - Utopia” could be said as a hit collection.

After listening to “Lizard Secrets: Part Three - Utopia”, the fans can be sure that AIRBORN is far from retirement, and they really deserve applause.