Review Summary: Power metal starter kit.
I tend to be overly critical of power metal bands. It’s an overcrowded genre so it can take quite a special band to stand out; power metal bands with few unique characteristics, no matter how good, are often overlooked too (Secret Sphere, for example). Power Paladin follow the latter, but ultimately, The Magic of Windfyre Steel is a safe release to a fault. Power Paladin seem like a band that will stay on the shelf and not survive the test of time. Their style is pure comfort food, losing its flavour when consumed repeatedly.
At a splendid, energetic pace, Power Paladin bring to mind Dragonforce and Theocracy, complete with a similar singer. Power Paladin are as cheesy as expected with a vocalist (Atli Guðlaugsson) that can reach the Heavens, and a section where the Legend of Zelda theme is played rather expertly. Despite hit or miss falsettos, Atli generally sounds great, and the guitars fall in line with a particularly juicy tone. Choruses are triumphant and fun, and the band is fittingly melodic. Unfortunately, that’s where the positives end. The songs in The Magic of Windfyre Steel are routine, transparently so as the album continues. Recycling becomes an issue, and not even a couple longer tracks booster the variety - if anything, it creates drag. Choruses play out the same as the last, to the point where the album feels like one long song. Power Paladin’s music entertains, but only for so long until tedium hits hard.
