If Heavenly are known at all in the UK it is for the fact that current Dragonforce bassist Fred Leclercq was once in their ranks. With the release of Virus they could be well known for providing us with one of 2007’s best power metal albums. Much better in fact than the somewhat turgid Inhuman Rampage that the ’Force inflicted upon us a year ago. 

Let’s, as Julie Andrews so memorably said, start at the very beginning. The Dark memories gets us under way and as befitting a band who were once produced by Piet Sielck of Iron Savior this sounds like it could have come from the Savior’s wonderful Dark Assault album and that’s real praise. 

Spill Blood On Fire is a keyboard laden big-chorused melodic winner in which vocalist Ben Sotto does his best Timo Kotipelto impression, something which he also does on the bonus track - a Japanese language run through of the song. Fantastic! 

Virus sounds like Iron Savior again but this time as if it came from Battering Ram but the chorus owes a lot to Rhapsody (of Fire) whilst The Power & Fury could have come from Dragonforce’s Sonic Firestorm. Heavenly aren’t overly original (hey, its power metal) but they pilfer well. Wasted Time keeps the momentum going as well as featuring Tony Kakko from Sonata Artica before the utterly thrilling Bravery In The Field which in places is reminiscent of Pagan’s Mind in its apparent proggyness yet still rocks like crazy. 

Liberty features massive gang vocals against another Dragonforce type musical back drop, I noted that during When The Rain Begins To Fall that I ended up singing Vain Glory Opera by Edguy for some reason – even though apparently it’s a Jermaine Jackson cover! Lullacry’s Tanja Lainio adds her feminine touch to this one. The Prince Of The World is another sing along tune and brought Wizard’s Hymn and Power Quest to mind before The Joker brings the album proper to a close. 

There is an overwhelming sense of familiarity about Heavenly’s work on Virus but that’s not a criticism as power metal is a genre which is in many ways constricted by its conventions. This is a superbly played example of its type and I just can’t recommend it highly enough. Epic! 

On a final note, Virus has one of the worst covers in the history of mankind. Apart looking like bad AS Level Art it really doesn’t give any potential purchaser a clue about the band and its true abilities – which is a shame. Buy it anyhow.

Let us know your views on 'Virus'

Track List

The Dark Memories
Spill Blood On Fire
Virus
The Power & Fury
Wasted Time
Bravery In The Field
Liberty
When The Rain Begins To Fall
The Prince Of The World

Line Up

Ben Sotto - Vocals
Charley Corbiaux - Guitars
Matthieu Plana - Bass
Oliver Lapauze - Guitars
Thomas Das Neves – Drums