Holy Shire Midgard

2014, Holy Shire are an Italian power octet with some folk influences. The album opens up with ,,Bewitched (My Words Are Power)" and it's catchy Power Metal, the following track ,,Winter Is Coming" is in a completely different mood, still featuring the soaring female/male vocal duet and a succession of tight solid and riffs. It's a convincing track despites the (now) clichéd title. ,,Overlord Of Fire" is an instant Power Metal ´classic` and it's one of the best songs on this album due to its vigorousness and the great male vocals. Overall, Holy Shire is a definitely must-check-out band for Power Metallers and ´Fantasy Metal` fans. If you're already into Italian Symphonic Power Metal, this is an album to add to your collection. It's not an instant favorite, nor does it bring anything new to the subgenre, but that's what Power Metal is all about. The eternally-successful combination of the magical elements that you either adore or despise.