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We Meet Again

    
       
       
       
     
             
Alien Force are a heavy metal band from Denmark formed in 1982 by brothers Henrik Rasmussen (guitar) and Michael Rasmussen (drums), at a time when metal was a quickly developing musical genre. The band released a three song demo in 1984, followed by two full length albums in quick succession - 'Hell And High Water' (1985) and 'Pain And Pleasure' (1986). The band split up soon after, reforming in 2008 for a reunion concert, and releasing two more demo's. Going on hiatus once more, the band re-emerged in 2018 to play the Keep It True festival in Germany, and went on to release two singles - 'Forgive Me/Rebellions' (2019) and 'Set Me Free' (2021) - after which came the bands third album 'We Meet Again', also released in 2021.    
             
The Danish metallers formed at a time when the burgeoning NWOBHM evolution was becoming a worldwide phenomenon - the bands sound highly influenced by this. The bands first two albums are recognised as great examples of the emerging NWOBHM sound, and their new album, aptly titled, 'We Meet Again' is another hard rocking, heavy hitting slab of anthemic traditional metal. Aptly titled as it has been an incredible thirty five years since the bands last studio album! For forty five minutes, Alien Force plant one foot on the monitor, and pound the hell out of you, delivering ten songs of unabashed old school metal with a heavy anthemic feel. 'Set Me Free' bombastically kick starts the album into life with a shuddering heaviness heavier than the heaviest thing you can think of. The age old anthemic metal standard set by Saxon, Manowar, Powerwolf, and Sabaton is highly evident as 'Set Me Free' does just that - sets you free from all the bullshit in life. All together now "live as it should be, set me free". What a rabble rousing start!    
             
Pace now quickens for the up tempo and highly energetic 'Rebellions', yet none of the rabble rousing nature of the opening shot has been lost. Fists will be punching the air in salute to a call to arms that all metal heads are surely gonna answer! And the chant style chorus of "rebellions" is gonna go down a storm in a live arena. Whoa, hang on a mo, I'll be back... Right, just had to check something - the Saxon back catalogue of all things. For 'I Decide For You' matches the oomph and oof of the British legends so perfectly I just had to make sure it wasn't a cover. And it isn't. But what a corker of pounding heavy metal with a massive traditional feel, full of hooks that are gonna get you, err, hooked! And thundering into sight with two feet firmly planted on the monitor, 'Sceptical Feeling' is a fast paced romp to head bang hard to. The fastest song heard so far, Alien Force lets all hell break loose, allowing the mosh pits to go fucking wild.    
             
And as quick as the pace came, it just as quickly disappears - to be replaced with a mellow and serene flavour, for 'Killing Time' to glide into view and mosey on its way. Not ballad and not hymn-like, 'Killing Time' is more like the doom style of Black Sabbath and Dio. Alien Force are really mixing up the styles of heavy metal, visiting every corner of the genre. With its haunting monk style chant at the start, 'Forgive Me' is filled with fear and tension - quickly dissipating as a furious gallop begins and we're off and running like its the Grand National! This is pure and unabashed traditional heavy metal the way it should be. The albums title song 'We Meet Again' has the iconic buzz style guitar sound so synonymous with the legendary NWOBHM evolution. And also, 'We Meet Again' (the song) is the most melodic, infectious, catchy, and sing a long-able offering so far.    
             
'Precious Time' returns the doom heavy style of earlier to the fore, this time blending in the heavy hitting anthemic style and a touch of the epic too. Stripped back and very much bass guitar driven, 'Precious Time' progresses to a full blown heavy metal avalanche. And picking up the pace once again, Alien Force crack the whip and gallop furiously on with 'Temptations' - an up tempo and energetic romp of all out, balls out, heavy metal. The infectious level rises to its highest of the album so far, 'Temptations' one of the many highlights on offer. And now we come to the final song - and before I say anything about it, regular readers will no doubt know exactly what I'm gonna say... For 'Song For You' is a ballad, and for any new readers, ballads are for rock albums not metal ones. Just my long standing opinion of four decades listening to metal and rock. And no, I'm not going to enter a debate with you! 'Song For You' to be fair, is a well constructed ballad, with soulful vocals and mellow guitar.    
             
Overall, a thunder filled mix of traditional and anthemic metal, highly infectious and very memorable.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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