This is the third release for DENIED, an Underground Swedish band reputed for counting in his ranks (and acting as their frontman) the mighty Johan Fahlberg from JADED HEART fame. Yep, the very same guy that had to fill the Michael Bormann's big shoes when this charismatic singer had left his own band for a solo career.

But wait a minute, speaking of Germany's finest JADED HEART, there is not a single trace of AOR or melodic Hard Rock here, instead it's a pretty ballsy Groove / Power Metal with occasional Thrash elements and a raw instinct in simple heavy to the bone straight riffage: while the aggressive and harsh vocals remains clear however still full of bitterness, the melody is still very present.

The Swedish Paradox, is that they never created something really new but they are the kings in updating each and every category in Metal, and making them their own by adding some ultra catchy or hyper smart ingredients to it and finally, they have the most talented and the most brilliant, intelligent and diverse scene in all genuine sub-style of Heavy Music.

Indeed, in DENIED's case, the music come directly from the great American bands from the late 80s but with the huge condiment seasoning in the melodies very typical of the Stockholm piquancy style, the playing level is also (as always in Sweden) pretty elevated and the sound is organic, penetrating and Powerful enough to give a good justice for those songs full of nasty & mean Metal flavoured with Thrashed angered Power.

Overall, there is no trace of Euro Metal at all, no cheesy orchestration or happy melodies, it's Darker than your usual Scandi Power Metal. It sounds like a mix between MORGANA LEFAY, late ANGEL DUST ("In Hell") and the contemporary line provided by NOCTURNAL RITES ("Judas Kiss", "Dead Messiah" or "Until the End of Time").

Numerous songs had put on featuring, the classic 'Great-gang-backing-vocals-choir' trick, in the huge TESTAMENT / ANTHRAX / VICIOUS RUMORS fashion, some riffs are even pretty close to the PANTERA's "Far Beyond Driven" sharp sound ("Lesser Son") and the paces are variable from fast ("Constant Rage") to mid tempos like "Garden of Stone" and "The Black Room" which are the heaviest songs with tasty and realistic groovy elements. Only complaint could be done for some, too similar or repetitive singing in the verse between tracks like "Judas Kiss" and "Lesser Son" but happily the salving chorus is always invigorating.

If, I had to find a comparative release: Swedes fellows as DAYS OF ANGER with their "Deathpath" album or "A Farewell To Nothing-The Diary Part 1" by INMORIA in 2011, followed  the same tortuous path, but I think "Afterlife" by NOCTURNAL RITES is clearly the closest album out of the immense Swedish Steel scene.

This album is more or less like a best-of, as most of the tracks were recorded before by the old line up for the early albums, but those reworked versions are clearly superior to their originals, so they should be considered as the definitive renditions and as the first albums were more than confidential it seems that is a smart move. From now on, the band is on the right tracks to produce something totally new and fresh and I already have some serious anticipation even a few high expectations for the next opus. The wait has begun.