Lyrically, they stride boldly on to the less-chartered territory of mental health. Vocalist Matthew Corry belts empathetic words to uplifting melodies and it's a hell of a stirring combination, most potent on The Hours Of Wintertime. Close your eyes as this song plays and it's easy to picture hordes of fans singing along to the empowering refrain: 'What makes me strong is today.' And this is just one of what feels like millions of inspiring moments on this record.
It's impressive to think how far the British four-piece have come since forming in just 2019. Their self-titled EP caused quite the stir when released in 2020, prompting high praise from the likes of DragonForce's Herman Li. The band gained a following very quickly and it's no secret that expectations were set sky-high for their debut. Well, it's finally here. And it's even better than anyone could have ever dreamed. It's clear that the future of power metal lies in very safe hands.
Verdict: 4/5
For fans of: DragonForce, Hammerfall, Blind Guardian
The Saberlight Chronicles is out now via Scarlet