Skills, power, passion, creativity and cooperation - A review of Galneryus' Union Gives Strength (2021)

Progressive power metal emperors Galneryus are back with an extended play that stands out for multiple reasons. For starters, it's the first release with new drummer Lea who only joined the veterans last year and is also involved in heavy metal band Zygote. Up next, this release features eight songs with a generous running time of fifty-nine minutes and offers value for money. Thirdly, the special edition comes around with a bonus DVD that includes a concert stream featuring nine songs plus a guitar solo. Last but not least, this record's title Union Gives Strength represents the band spirit very well as it's all about outstanding individual musicians joining forces to create some of the best progressive power metal team work in the world.

Opening an album with a song that nearly cracks the ten-minute mark might sound ambitious to some bands but that isn't the case for the gifted Japanese quintet. ''The Howling Darkness'' starts with eerie, mysterious and sinister keyboard soundscapes before the other instruments kick in and offer symphonic power metal with atmospheric gothic soundscapes. This dark approach is soon mixed with the band's unique trademarks in form of playful keyboard sounds, technically skilled guitar play and youthful, passionate and fresh vocals. The new drummer also gets a short solo spot where he can shine and is backed up by formidable bass guitar play. Despite all these changes, ideas and vibes, this ambitious opener still comes around with catchy melodies and memorable vocal lines. This opener combines everything that makes Galneryus stand out while still adding a few new soundscapes to the formula. This track is a perfect introduction to the best progressive power metal band of the world and if you aren't familiar with it yet, then you should certainly purchase this record.

The greatness obviously doesn't stop here and describing each song would end up resembling a master's thesis. Another song that needs to be pointed out however is ''Flames of Rage''. This song offers catchy, fast and intelligent power metal that sounds like everything a band like DragonForce attempted but always failed to achieve. The relentless rhythm section is the solid backbone of this tune. The progressive keyboard partitions add an intellectual touch. The dynamic guitar play is once again out of this world, no matter if you listen to the fast riffs or the emotional solo passages. The heroic vocals blend in splendidly and carry the song through its extensive running time of nine minutes without one single unnecessary second. In terms of quality, this is the best European power metal song of the decade so far and it's almost intimidating how these five Japanese masterminds show their European colleagues how to excel in their own genre.

One final song that needs to be pointed out is ''Whatever It Takes (Raise Our Hands!)'' which was released a few weeks prior to this extended play along with a cool music video. This track basically combines the atmospheric, creative and intellectual approach to ''The Howling Darkness'' with the energetic, fast and melodic side of ''Flames of Rage''. The song is crowned with an irresistible chorus that you won't ever forget upon first listening to it, A special shoutout goes to the progressive keyboard sounds that make this song's middle section a voyage from the experimental sixties over the atmospheric seventies to the versatile eighties while never sounding even remotely old-fashioned in the context of a contemporary power metal album.

In the end, Galneryus have delivered another progressive power metal masterpiece and serious candidate for album of the year. The six brand new songs are perfectly executed, the two re-recordings mustn't hide behind the original versions at all and the bonus concert certainly offers value for money. If you have come across this band before but never really given it a chance, then the time to do so has now arrived. I have only discovered this band about four years ago and would already consider Galneryus among the ten greatest bands I have ever listened to in my life. Anyone with a weakness for progressive music or power metal might discover his or her new favourite band right here.

Final rating: 96%