The Finnish Heavy/Power Metal FRETERNIA started life as EARTHCRAWL in 1998. They soon found that name didn't fit the bill and changed it into FRETERNIA. The band has been going ever, and released three full length albums before this one. The first one in 2000 ("Warchant & Fairytales"), soon followed by "A Nightmare Story" in 2002. Then we had to wait until 2019 before "The Gathering" saw the light of day. Their brand of what I call Pony Metal (as it gallops along nicely) has been popular since RHAPSODY first came to the stage. Since then we have been inundated with bands that have tried to outplay and outlast their peers, and although a lot of them are quite good, for me RHAPSODY are still the benchmark band to compare it all to. And so far, nobody has surpassed them.

The question therefore is how FRETERNIA and their fourth and latest endeavour "The Final Stand", which was released on 18^th of November 2022, will be placed in my equation. First off I find the title of the album simultaneously rather funny and disturbing. Are they threatening or promising us that this is the last record they will ever release. And should we be glad of sad about that fact. Whatever the answers are, let's just listen and try to enjoy whatever FRETERNIA is throwing at us.

My emphasis is on enjoying, as "The Final Stand" is full with pure and unadulterated Heavy and Power Metal that has been well put together, played to perfection and that has that positive drive and atmosphere that makes you want to rase your fist into the air and scream along with the lyrics. I could almost call this True metal, due to the cover and the soldiers with their swords fighting their way through the monsters. As you would expect, the sound is impeccable, as it should be with this kind of Metal. FRETERNIA have succeeded is capturing the atmosphere like they should, and have delivered an album that the fans of Power/Heavy Metal will love to bits.

Do not expect anything new or unexpected from FRETERNIA. They do exactly what it says on the tine, and that is play good quality music in the way it was supposed to. And therein lies my critique; I would have liked to be able to say that they have added some dimensions or aspects. But they haven't, so there you are. To my taste it makes "The Final Stand" into an okay album instead of a really good one.