Ahhhhh, Astral Doors. Another Swedish band I’ve been diggin’ on for a decade now, ever since 2014’s Notes From the Shadows found its way to these ears. I have reviewed each album since then for a few publications with no end in sight. These guys give us music and I’m all over it. So with that in mind brand spankin’ new disc The End of it All is a banger for sure. Nils Patrik Johansson (lead and background vocals) once again delivers great and catchy vocal melodies while Joachim Nordlund and Mats Gesar bring the guitar fury in spades.
Right from the first notes of opener “Temple of Lies” and the thundering gallop of “Masters of the Sky” you can just feel the metal emanating from every fiber of the group’s being. “Heaven’s Gate” manages to be hooky with an “Am I Evil” / Diamond Head feel. The title track gives off Dio vibes, so not surprisingly this was my absolute favorite song. “Father Evil” is another stellar song with guitars that wreck shop and the rhythm section of Ulf Lagerström (bass) and Johan Lindstedt (drums) packs a wallop. You add Jocke Roberg’s keys and here’s another killer number. “When The Clock Strikes Midnight” is a tune I can see doing very well in live venues all over, while epic closer “A Game of Terror” gives us seven minutes of that greatness we’ve come to know from this band.
Astral Doors, you’ve done it again. Here’s to my next decade with y’all as you keep the metal comin’ in hot and heavy…as it should be. Pick up The End Of It All, pour yourselves a drink and have a blast.
Standout Tracks: “Father Evil”, “Masters of the Sky”, “The End Of It All”, “A Game of Terror”.