I didn’t know what to expect when I found Exelerate’s self-titled (From The Vaults) debut album sitting in my inbox for review. I’m usually up past my eyeballs reviewing every filthy death metal and trashy thrash release I can get my grubby mitts on. Exelerate is a power metal band out of Europe and are a hard right turn from what I usually check out.

 

Please put down the torches and pitchforks. I actually quite enjoy the occasional power metal tune.

 

While the first track, ‘Arrival’ didn’t initially really grab me, the second track ‘No Escape’ grabbed me by the throat and made me a fan. It has a killer intro riff that instantly reminded me of early Megadeth. Add some really killer operatic Bruce Dickinson meets Joey Belladonna vocals and you have some A+ material on your hands.

 

‘Spawn of Satan’ as the name suggests is a nasty little tune that keeps the party going with fast and savage riffs and mean solos. During the halfway point Exelerate slows the tempo down as they lay out some great harmonies. This is easily my favorite track on the album. Are we sure this is their debut album? This feels and sounds like it could have come off Painkiller!

 

Excelerate may bill themselves as “Power Metal,” but they feel thrashy as fuck to me. ‘Release’ keeps the intense temp going and includes some really cool soloing. The vocals on this track have a little more of the “epic” feel of power metal. Perfect for slaying the dragon or the pit.

 

‘God of Man’ slows things down. Beginning with clean guitars and soft vocals, the song slowly builds into one of the more dramatic and “epic” songs on the album. There are more killer harmonies to be found here and even more epic soloing.

 

This is a helluva impressive debut that has all the makings of being a future classic. Do not fall asleep on this one!

 

Buy the album here:

https://targetshop.dk/?s=Exelerate

 

9 / 10

ANDREW RISCH