Six

Six is the sixth album, delivering orthodox heavy metal's joy straight through thick riffs and big choruses. Released in 2017, fully seven years after the last record. The title simply points to it being their sixth. The songs prioritize memorable phrases and live-ready momentum over boasting complexity. The guitars are sharp, the rhythms bold, and the singing never lets the elation break. For coming after such a long silence the finish is remarkably natural — fair to say it was worth the wait. While keeping the band's playfulness, the playing itself is very tight. From the opener “Dream Evil,” which carries the band's own name, through “Antidote,” “Sin City,” “Creature of the Night,” “Hellride,” “Six Hundred and 66,” “How to Start a War,” “The Murdered Mind” and “Too Loud” to the closing “We Are Forever,” twelve songs line up. It's approachable for anyone who loves classic metal's manners while also carrying modern sonic pressure. Thanks to Nordström's production skill the sound stays clear throughout. A pleasing record that leads you straight to headbanging.