The return of Metalite with their fifth full-length album, “Discovery”, confirms their position as one of the most consistent forces in modern melodic power metal. The Swedish band continues to explore the sci-fi soundscape established on their previous releases, delivering an album packed with energy, technical excellence and prominent synth elements.
The album’s concept takes us to the futuristic year of 2058. Following the collapse of the natural world, humanity has become dependent on an artificial intelligence (AI) network called Eqlipse. When the system crashes, the leaders find themselves trapped in a digital world. This dystopian storyline is beautifully reflected in the musical structure, where heavy, rhythmic guitars meet electro-pop and eurodance influences. Once again, production duties are handled by Jacob Hansen, who delivers an exemplary result, with a crystal-clear, massive and thoroughly modern sound.
Erica Ohlsson’s performance is the album’s greatest asset. Her voice has all the power needed to deliver the demanding, anthemic choruses, as demonstrated on the explosive opening track “Our Time Has Come” and the highly radio-friendly “In Case Of Emergency”. Furthermore, the band’s decision to keep the album under the 50-minute mark works in its favor, ensuring a tight and cohesive flow that was missing from its predecessor.
On the other hand, the lack of compositional risks remains Metalite’s main weakness. The band chooses to stick to familiar and safe territory, resulting in some of the tracks towards the end of the album sounding repetitive and predictable.
All in all, “Discovery” is a highly accomplished example of modern power metal. It may not break new ground in terms of originality, but it executes its vision with precision and professionalism, fully satisfying fans of the genre.
♦ 7/10
Frost and Fire
