ALBUM REVIEW: From Hell With Love – Beast in Black

If the sphere of music was envisioned as a class of students, metal would be a set of twins. The first would be moody, sullen, barely speaking to anyone and forever scowling; the other would be the class clown, bouncy and never taking things too seriously. It’s this second category where we find BEAST IN BLACK, the project started by Anton Kabanen after he left BATTLE BEAST. Three years on and his band of merry men have gone from the Finnish underground to the arena spotlight, opening for bands such as W.A.S.P, RHAPSODY and most recent NIGHTWISH, all the more impressive when you consider this was done off the back of one album, 2017’s excellent debut Berserker. Now comes the next chapter in their career, From Hell With Love, their sophomore record out via Nuclear Blast this Friday.

Whilst it’s true that a big attraction to many people is the intricacies, intelligent stories and huge riffs that metal brings to the audio table, sometimes all that is wanted is fist-pumping fun where even the music is wearing a battle jacket. To this extent, BEAST IN BLACK have come up trumps again. From the moment that the upbeat Cry Out For A Hero kicks in properly, we’re off and away on a roller-coaster of huge choruses, massive sing-a-longs and an overriding sense of invincibility. From Hell With Love is a lot more keyboard driven than its predecessor, as heard on the likes of the title track and lead single Die By The Blade, but that doesn’t stop it from being a bombastic rampage either; Sweet True Lies sounds like BON JOVI on steroids with its glam-metal feel and big key change towards the end, whilst Heart Of Steel take a leaf from the book of SABATON with its stomping pace and power metal-esque horn section at the beginning.

BEAST IN BLACK aren’t afraid to show that they can go in a couple of different directions either. Oceandeep, the solitary power ballad, is found in the middle of the record and provides a lovely change of pace, topped off by a stunning vocal performance from Yannis Papadopoulos, easily his best on From Hell With Love. Both Unlimited Sin and This Is War incorporate chuggier riff passages to – the former sounding very much like JUDAS PRIEST (who, incidentally, are Kabanen’s all-time favourite band), the latter having a curious middle section that slows down and strips back the guitars and drums, the ‘eye of the storm’ as the rest of the track swirls around it. Sure, the lyrics don’t leave much to think about, but then that really isn’t the point.

As a body of work, From Hell With Love doesn’t quite match Berserker in terms of overall quality and the songs don’t reach the same anthemic level, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s still seriously fun, and will have no trouble in putting smiles on faces and consolidates the talent and ability that this band have easily. Throw on your denim and leather as quickly as possible and get ready for a massive party.

Rating 8/10

From Hell With Love is set for release February 8th via Nuclear Blast Records. 

Like BEAST IN BLACK on Facebook.