ALBUM REVIEW: No More Hollywood Endings – Battle Beast

Much like the Scottish Premier League, symphonic metal is dominated by one band and whenever a new album comes out within the genre, the perennial question follows – is it going to worry NIGHTWISH in any shape or form? More often than not the answer is a resounding no and, as time goes on, the likelihood that the Finnish outfit will come up against a genuine challenger to their crown gets ever slimmer. Fellow countrymen BATTLE BEAST have other ideas though, and they’re ready for another crack at the title with No More Hollywood Endings, their fifth studio album via Nuclear Blast Records and hoping to make it a hat-trick of #1 records in their homeland, with both 2015’s Unholy Savior and follow up Bringer Of Pain topping the charts.

If we’re being honest though, to lump BATTLE BEAST in with the symphonic metal crowd is a bit harsh, because they’ve got all the attributes of a full blown power metal outfit instead, and No More Hollywood Endings is testament to this. Sure, there are moments that stray into the territory usually occupied by Tuomas Holopanien and co, such as the floaty strains of Eden, the grandiose I Wish and the strings present on the title track, but instead of making the majority of the album more bombastic and overblown BATTLE BEAST have opted for the stomp and drive of classic heavy metal, a factor no clearer shown than on the aptly-titled Raise Your Fists, which will not only succeed in doing this at live events but is a rousing call to arms lyrically and musically; the chugging riff in the middle combined with Pyry Vikki’s double kicks is a lovely touch.

This throwback to the traditional foundations of metal is furthered by Noora Louhimo’s gritty vocals; they are a standout of the album, particularly during Piece Of Me that looks set to be a cornerstone of BATTLE BEAST set-lists for years to come. She is a real firecracker with a powerful set of pipes that help to drive songs forward and her range from savage shouts to more controlled, delicate singing is crucial in the likes of The Golden Horde and The Hero. There are a couple of wobbles out of her control though, namely Endless Summer which chucks in a large dose of hair metal cheese and leaves it a little too covered in the stuff and opening track Unbroken, whose lyrics surrounding a birthday party gone wrong are questionable at best; luckily, neither has enough prominence to derail the record entirely.

When Anton Kabanen left the band in 2015 (going on to form current project BEAST IN BLACK), there were fears that BATTLE BEAST would suffer irreparable damage from losing their main creative drive. Two albums later and those worries have continued to prove unfounded; No More Hollywood Endings is a real statement of intent from the Finns. Will it answer the question posed above? No, but then it was never trying to. Will it get them to Number One? That remains to be seen. Is it worth your time? Most definitely.

Rating: 8/10

No More Hollywood Endings is set for release March 22nd via Nuclear Blast Records. 

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