Lankester Merrin is a melodic power metal band from Germany formed in 2019, releasing two albums to date – ‘Upon The Forgotten’ (2021) and ‘Dark Mother Rises’ released in 2023.
The band – and the info sheet supplied by their record label – classify Lankester Merrin as a “female-fronted” metal band. And while yes that’s true, I personally don’t like using the term “female-fronted” – after all, we don’t use the term “male-fronted” to classify male-fronted bands! So why should we discriminate? As far as I’m concerned, Lankester Merrin are a melodic power metal band with a female lead singer. Simple as that, right! Okay – minor rant over! The band’s new album features nine power-driven metal songs in just under forty minutes – ‘We Ride The Storm’ storming into life with incisive purpose and intent! And with a little hint of countrymen Running Wild and British icons Iron Maiden, ‘We Ride The Storm’ is an infectious “foot on the monitor” gallop of catchy metal! A stunning opening that’s gonna turn heads and make listeners sit up and take notice…
…‘Bone Tomahawk’ a more punchy and bustling affair! The thunderous nature of ‘Bone Tomahawk’ is deafening, the in your face attitude intimidating, with the voice of singer Cat Rogers sultry and sensuous. The metal across the album’s opening brace has been infectious and eye-catching – surely that should be ear-catching – shuddering the ground hard and resonating with a heart-pounding rhythm.
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The supermodel catwalk looks of singer Rogers are gonna set many hearts a flutter (mine included), as is the music on offer – the band moving on with the classic sounding power metaller ‘Medusa’. Lankester Merrin has delivered a breathless opening triple, the energy and intensity levels higher than the Zugspitze mountain range in Germany! And without breaking their stride, the band powered on with the fastest song heard so far – ‘The Heathen’ performed at a perfect head-banging pace. All the headbangers around the world are gonna love this one, the mosh pits in a live arena will be frenzied and full of electric energy – please, Lankester Merrin, play ‘The Heathen’ live!
More sedately and with more hard rock punch than anything heard up to this point, the band rock hard with ‘Perfect Illusion’ – echoing nineties-era Lita Ford, more specifically Lita’s 1991 album ‘Dangerous Curves’ – Lankester Merrin bringing to the fore an American rock sound that was prevalent during the late eighties and into the nineties. Such variation in the band’s sound opens their music up to a very wide audience – the audience definitely metal for the hard and heavy ‘Stranger’. And a melodious sing a long style chorus to give every listener, fan, follower and concertgoer an opportunity to scream and screech to their heart’s content. Again – only if the band perform this one live! ‘My Journey’ drops all the energy and oomph of the album so far, replacing it with a serenity that indicates incoming balladry! But nope, the band proceed to punch hard and kick harder with a mighty foot stomping attitude strong enough to demolish buildings!
And with just two songs remaining, Lankester Merrin picked up the pace once more, ‘Sweet Lizzie’ galloping on with all the gusto of old school heavy metal, the iconic foot on the monitor feel coming to the fore – with the level of headbang ability shooting through the fucking roof! All album the band have wandered between the power and heavy metal genres, delivering an infectious, catchy and immensely melodic journey – a journey that comes to an end with ‘Evil Lives Here’. And a chilling spoken word intro, ably matched by the menacing music as the band stealthily increase the tension. Breaking out into a canter, ‘Evil Lives Here’ maintains ‘Dark Mother Rises’s high intensity, yet all the while retaining a dark and moody air of menace.
Overall, an infectious and highly head-bang-able romp of melodic power metal with a strong traditional metal influence.
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TRACKLIST
We Ride The Storm
Bone Tomahawk
Medusa
The Heathen
Perfect Illusion
Stranger
My Journey
Sweet Lizzie
Evil Lives Here
Lankester Merrin: Facebook
Release Year: 2023
Label: MDD Records
Category: Album
Country: Germany
Reviewed by Iron Mathew for Frenzy Fire and Metal-Roos.
