Vhäldemar- Fight to the End

*=Staff's pick	The Black Beast* Energy* Feelings* Lost World Old King's Visions Number 7 The Helmet of War Fight to the End* Traitor Vhäldemar*

Genre	Heavy Metal	Carlos Escudero	Vocals
Tracks	11	Carlos Escudero	Guitar
Runningtime	41 Min.	Pedro J. Monge	Guitar
Label	Arise Records	Oscar Cuadrado	Bass
Release	18 Mar. 2002	Edu Martínez	Drums
Country	Spain	-	Keyboards
Similar artists	Gamma Ray, Manowar

Another Spanish band has begun their metal-journey and this time it's Vhäldemar that's providing the tunes with their debut, Fight to the End. The band's following their country's predilection to melodic power metal and the domestic sound is mixed with above all Gamma Ray-influences. But there are some tracks here that are right up Manowar's alley as well.
The vocalist sounds like a crossover between Kai Hansen and Chris Boltendahl and although he doesn't perform as well as neither it's the vocals that give Vhäldemar such a unique and great sound.

Perhaps the vocals are a bit exaggerated on two of the tracks where it's closer to some sort of amost death-metal screaming but it's still this indivduality combined with a great production, good guitars and some really stand out tracks that make Fight to the End a very promising debut.
It's a bit short though but on the other hand it feels very intense and genuin and it's obvious now that Spain's got more to offer on the metalmarket besides Dark Moor.

So we'll just have to wait and see what Vhäldemar brings us the next time but until then Fight to the End definitely doesn't embarass itself among other debut-releases. Fans of well-played, melodic power metal should absolutely give Vhäldemar a well deserved and thorough check up!