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POWER SURGE
Shadows Warning

FHM (2025)
Rating: 8/10

There was and still are a few bands adopting the Power Surge moniker, but this international combo of well travelled musicians is the newest on the block. After issuing a number of singles over the last year, Power Surge now unleashes its debut full-length album, Shadows Warning, featuring nine songs, including a cover of rendition of Warriors’ ‘Carry On’.

Now, the following sentence might be all you need to know about this album; it sounds like Armored Saint. Not only does frontman Roko Nicolić look like Armored Saint / ex-Anthrax frontman John Bush but he sounds like him too. So, to put it simply, if you like pounding metal like Armored Saint or Metal Church (you know the kind; not thrash, not power or traditional metal, but somewhere in between the lot) then grab yourself a load of this.

The opening title track introduces itself with galloping drums and a killer melody that’s rich, soulful, fiery and wholesome. Okay, so it’s not original or remarkable by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s as reliable and timeless as solid steel. Rarely does Power Surge surprise, but there’s such a natural fluidity to the songs as borderline thrasher ‘No Turning Back’ bruises with its muscular riffs. Slot this back in 1985 and you’d be scrawling the band name on your de-sleeved tatty denim jacket. It’s metal with punch, it’s metal that sweats, but it never sacrifices melody.

Even after the first listen you’ll be bangin’ along to the driving juggernaut that is ‘A Dream Into A Nightmare’, which is threaded wonderfully with perfectly executed solo. ‘Calm Before The Storm’ is warmly nostalgic in its presence, cruising with belligerent roughness and toughness. Call it streetwise metal if you wish and imagine sleazy backstreets Bronx Warriors-style as Powersurge struts through the wasteland to the beat of its own macho drum, or in this case the skin slaps of Milan Jejina.

‘Last Man Standing’ is robust and cocksure in its mid-paced groove, while ‘With The Dawning’ smoulders with intensity, simmering in the night air as a delicious solo grips the stars. Hints of Meliah Rage creep in at times, on ‘Burnout’ especially with those burly riffs, but what’s most compelling about this sort of metal is its ability to engage without providing any sort of thrills.

This is straight-laced heavy metal with nary a smile in sight, but if you’re going into a fight or just want to let off some steam then Power Surge is your drug.

Neil Arnold

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