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Infinity's Wings

    
       
       
       
     
             
Skyblazer are a melodic power metal band from Sweden founded by multi-instrumentalist Johannes Frykholm (Palantir, Symphonity) - credited as Johannes Skyblazer - releasing their debut E.P. 'Time For Deliverance' in 2021, and debut full length album 'Infinity's Wings' in 2023.    
             
Led by Johannes performing "everything", the new album features a raft of guest guitar solos - including Palantir band mate Fredrick E. Enochson, Symphonity band mate Libor Krivak, and Vandor guitarist Jack L. Stroem - along with three guest vocalists - Vide Bjerde (Vandor), David Henriksson (Heel), and Desiree Lind. As for the albums sound, if you're a fan of bands such as DragonForce, Freedom Call, and Sonata Arctica, then I reckon you're gonna fall in love with this one! 'Infinity's Wings' has been described as "happy metal" - and I'll agree to that! Every song on offer is refreshing and powerful, emanating a pulsating power metal sound that emphatically hits the sweet spot. The album is brought to life with the atmospheric and anticipation fuelled, sub one minute intro 'Prologue' - narrated by Ollie Bernstein (bass player for Marco Garau's Magic Opera) - leading straight into the blistering speedster 'Shine Forth'...    
             
...and what an incredible speedster it is! Flying at high velocity with a bouncy and buoyant aura, 'Shine Forth' is melodic power metal at its fastest and most infectious - Skyblazer setting a sky high standard for the rest of the album. So how do you follow such a red hot scorching opening - with a much hotter song that's how! The band increasing the speed and reaching new heights with the lightning quick 'Eyes Of Serenity' - yet losing none of the phenomenal melodious intent the album has. The head bang ability of the opening double salvo is just as impressive as the terrifically high infectious level, Skyblazer demonstrating they mean business with two of the quickest songs on offer! And here comes a song that reinforces the bands "happy metal" tag - 'Across The Heavens' a mouth watering rampage of jaw dropping pace, tempo, and attraction. A simply breath taking triple that is stunning, setting the album on course as the early contender for the title of Album Of The Year.    
             
Yes I know it's very early in the year, but the band have shown the audacity to propel themselves to the forefront of what I reckon, is gonna be a fabulous year for metal releases. And without a pause to breathe, 'Infinity's Wings' charges on at pace with 'Turning Time' maintaining the energy and pizzazz oozing from the album. Skyblazer are a young band from a country with a long legacy of producing superb metal and rock bands - a legacy that stretches back over forty years! Maybe Skyblazer will be a leading light for the next forty years! After all, the band have made a spectacular start to their career - 'Under The Blazing Sky' continuing the albums red hot performance. And at the fast pace we have come to expect from the band! 'Under The Blazing Sky' also displays the iconic gallop of traditional heavy metal alongside its blistering power metal roots. Skyblazer have impressed in a million ways with their debut long player, forging ahead by dropping a gear for the mid tempo mid paced melodic mastery of 'One Million Ways'. Anthemic in nature, 'One Million Ways' has the feel of a rabble rousing call to arms sing a long - what an in-concert moment that'll be!    
             
The albums title song 'Infinity's Wings' is the shortest song on offer, clocking in at just three and a half minutes in length! But what it lacks in length it more than makes up for with speed and accuracy - hitting the sweet spot right in the middle! The electrifying pace that is a major feature of the album is in full flight here, as is the "happy metal" aura, which is just an incredible feeling. 'Eternalize The Dream' is the nearest 'Infinity's Wings' (the album) gets to balladry without actually being a ballad - the strength of the songs hymn-like nature taking the lead. And with touches of an operatic feel lifting 'Eternalize The Dream' to majestic heights, what an anthem the band have delivered! Not to mention the fact that it's also the longest song on offer at over eight minutes in length! The final song on offer - labelled as a bonus - is the self titled 'Skyblazer', offering a final flourish of the bands supreme speed come power metal style, and one last chance for ferocious head banging! What an album, what a band, and what a future Skyblazer have in front of them.    
             
Overall, a blistering red hot rampage of fast paced power metal, majestic, melodic and insanely infectious.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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