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Doppelganger

      
         
         
         
     
             
Sunless Sky are a power metal band from the USA, formed in 2012, releasing their debut album, 'Firebreather', in 2014 with the follow up, 'Doppelganger', released in 2017.    
             
Powerful and hard hitting, the new album kicks off in bombastic style with 'Starfall' blazing a blistering trail of ferociousness. Catchy and infectious, 'Starfall' has a sing a long style chorus and a rhythm that will reel you in and have you salivating at the prospect of what's coming next. 'Doppelganger' is next, and the furious flurry of frenetic riffing is unrelenting as the song pulsates power from every where. Lead singer Juan Ricardo is a veteran of the music industry and his voice is simply superb, as passion and pride flow from every screech and scream. Sunless Sky hail from the USA, but their brand of metal certainly has the German power metal feel about it. Introducing a more melodic feel, 'Kingdom Of Sky' is a mid tempo, very heavy slab of hard rocking hard rock. And after only three songs, 'Doppelganger' (the album) is showing all the signs of being a great album. This theory is further reinforced by the thundering and hard hitting 'Stone Gods'. Has melodic power metal ever sounded so good? Possibly, but right here, right now, Sunless Sky are delivering an energetically, high intensity aural assault.    
             
Tempo increases as 'Lake Of Lost Souls' romps into sight and powers on, with breaks that have a distinctly folk metal vibe about them. This is cracking power metal that reminds me of legendary bands such as Rage, Primal Fear and Kai Hansen era Helloween. Heavying things up and rattling along like a freight train, 'Netherworld' is a very heavy, rocket fuelled romp. Sunless Sky are a new band into the power metal arena although the various band members have been around for many years and their experience is so evident as every song has been beautifully crafted and expertly played. Whoa, just listen to that opening riff for 'Adrenaline Junkie'...NWOBHM influenced or what? The buzzing guitar sound synonymous with the eighties NWOBHM evolution, makes its presence felt as 'Adrenalin Junkie' roars ferociously.    
             
With only ten songs on offer across forty five minutes, the album may seem a light offering, but what has been offered is simply superb, making the hugest of impacts. 'Doppelganger' (the album) is gonna be a memorable one, for all the reasons. Sinister sounding and moody, 'Inside The Monster' matches the vibe with the lyrical theme perfectly. A word of warning though, 'Inside The Monster' is a frightening song that you shouldn't listen to with the lights off...you have been warned! With the album racing to a conclusion, there is no sign of the customary power ballad that accompanies power metal albums. 'Heroin' slows the pace to mid tempo, doubling the heaviness, becoming the heaviest sounding song on the album. Hitting harder than a heavyweight boxing world champion, 'Heroin' is a superb foot stomp. Sadly, the album has to come to an end, but not without one last hurrah...'Black Symphony' takes on a more thrashy feel and would not be out of place on a Megadeth album... With 'Doppelganger' (the album), Sunless Sky have delivered a superb slice of infectious and memorable power metal.    
             
Overall, hard hitting, hard rocking and simply brilliant, 'Doppelganger' is a cracking album of heavy power metal, that will be on replay for a long time to come.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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