Highland Glory. Damn, their first album had a kick-ass front cover. They also have a singer that probably drives Michael Vescera insane (since he sounds 100% similar). They're also based in Norway. Power Metal from Norway? Has to be good! And it is!!!
Highland Glory are actually the continuation of Phoenix Rizing, who released 2 albums worldwide (Rise From The Ashes in 1998 & Eternal Crusade in 2000). The band changed singer and formed Highland Glory in the summer of 2001! With a fresh new start and an increasing potential, the band developed their style of melodic Power Metal in a heavier and more traditional direction on the debut album, From The Cradle To The Brave 2003 (yeah, that's the one with the cool front cover).
Forever Endeavour might not have such a cool front cover but definitely encloses really cool music. Power Metal meets neoclassical (the way Mr. Malmsteen invented it) with fine tuned melodic and powerful guitars, an exceptional vocal performance and lots of variety in tempos to keep everyone satisfied. There are a couple of backdrops since Break The Silence brought in mind Eagleheart of Startovarius and Mindgame Masquerade did the same thing with Victoria's Secret of Sonata Arctica (both of them mostly in the refrain) but in overall this album satisfied my appetite for melodic Power Metal at a 100% rate.
Some of the most ass kicking tunes are the powerful / epic Mindgame Masquerade and the amazing power ballad The Sacrifce (those two are nicely stitched, one after the other, that create a wonderful feeling of continuation!) while Forever Endeavour and Real Life follow at a close range just behind. The European version includes three (!) bonus tracks, all of them covers of known songs. W.A.S.P.'s Wild Child, KISS' Love Gun and The Trooper from this band... ah yeah, Iron Maiden (since I don't get to listen to this song often in cover versions).
This is a classic case of a daddy likes album. Is there any chance to see them live over here, please?