The power of NWOSHM (New Wave Of Swedish Heavy Metal) is upon us and its gaining more strength, so all of you unbelievers better beware of its wrath. I am probably going arrogant for this movement, yet it just felt right. Nearly album after album it seems that there is no stopping the Swedes on their journey to the top of old school Heavy Metal hall of fame. Only time will tell, but for now I hand you this amazing band named KATANA. After being a runner up for the title in the Wacken Metal Battle in 2010, the band released a wonderful debut showing off their prowess on doing the British thing. Now, charging again with might under Listenable Records, KATANA sends its listeners to another trip through the land of the rising sun with "Storms Of War". Heavy Metal has never sounded so sharp and blazing in a quite a while before an album such as this arrived.

The material on "Storms Of War" has a tad of presenting KATANA as a melodic Epic Metal band, highly inspired by the likes of the great IRON MAIDEN, though the opening smashing track, "Reaper", in the vein of early SATAN, is more of NWOBHM meeting Speed / Heavy US Metal. For the most part, the riffing is rather simple but still KATANA are MAIDEN oriented so there is a share of complex compositions and a few uneven structures. The important part about this album is that it is energetic, highly accessible, it will knock you down faster than you can say the band's name, and it has strong moments of excellent musicianship. In particular I enjoyed the lead guitar work by the two high rated guitarists and the soaring vocal line that seemed to have improved even more in comparison to the debut. Furthermore, I took pride by the album's production. KATANA has always presented itself as a British kind of band playing just as the wild ones of the past did in the early and mid-80s. Along with their imagery, which fits like a glove, with this album they implemented a suitable sound to themselves in order to be credible to the era they are protecting. I have to say that the work done on their production is of high rate.

"Storms Of War" is just what the doctor ordered for the old school Heavy Metal fan. Along with the killing "Reaper", there were also great tracks as the epic "Kuhbilai Khan", "Modesty Blaise", the anthem of "No Surrender" and the epic closer of "The Wisdoms Of Emond's Field", all are superb examples of great storylines and fascinating music. KATANA I salute you; this is the right path to become a hall of famer.