Satisfied' is a kinda weak word to describe my feelings for CROSSWIND's Beyond EP a couple of months (or more?) ago. The Greek Heavy/Power Metal band - as you can read in the relative review - easily proved they have the fonts to attract the interest of classic Metal maniacs. Not willing to run and hide, CROSSWIND now strike back with another EP release, this time entitled Opposing Forces. Dunno the meaning of existence for the first word in the CD's title, still forces is again a fitting choice.
Four songs - including a QUEENSRYCHE cover - and three intermezzos build up the tracklist for this EP. CROSSWIND are looking more into the American standards this time, with the songs dressed up in a JAG PANZER/TITAN FORCE suede (the throat of Kyriakos Vasdokas helps in this direction, too) but the basics of IRON MAIDEN, HELLOWEEN/RUNNING WILD plus a portion of post-80s Italian Power/Epic Metal still exist. Speeding things up again, the band delivers even better guitar parts (most of the soloing is simply 'kick ass'), while the  work done in the multi-vocal choruses elevates the songs' breeze.
The cover on Walk In The Shadows is actually striking, too. Not only it confirms the technical adequacy of CROSSWIND as players but - thumbs up to the singer for this one - the vocals performance is hitting hard, keeping Tate's guidelines safe while endorsing the song with a an identity equal to what singers like e.g. Harry Tyrant Conklin have. I confess I was not ready for a warm welcome to this take, but - eventually - I am glad I was wrong.
Nothing more left to add, really. Opposing Forces is an excellent release...again. You should really grab the chance to order both EPs at the band's MySpace page. You'll be excited with the sound the band builds up, too. Still, let's wish the next CROSSWIND release will be a full-length CD. They deserve more, they really do.