Human Fortress - Thieves of the Night

Human Fortress did appear around the turn of the millennium and were quite an interesting power metal band in the traditional sense that did gain some fans with their first couple of albums. Then for some very weird reason and following radical line-up changes they released an album with 3 different members that flopped badly, as it was vainly trying to update/modernize the band’s sound, all at once.
 
The band sort of reshuffled it’s line-up with both original guitarists and drummer Laki returning, but a returning Joti Parharides had to bow out due to health reasons, leading into the acquisition of Gus Monsanto (Revolution Renaissance, Adagio) to fill in on vocals along with Andre Hort from Rough Silk on bass, to make up the numbers. With this line-up the band has released their previous album “Raided Land” in 2013 as well as this newest addition, indeed much closer to the band’s original spirit, but still a tad different because of Monsanto’s rougher and more powerful voice…
 
The band is on the right path with a dynamic Europower based style that however isn’t as stale or lame as it can get on some cases, taking direct cues from bands like Virgin Steel and Kamelot (before they stagnated)… apparently the first five or so songs are really all quite strong with the album then only faltering momentarily but overall being quite endearing… “Amberstow”, “Last Prayer to the Lord”, “Thieves of the Night”, “Rise or Fall” and “Thrice Blessed” among others are “winners”…
 
I’d recommend to check them out, if what they offer catches your fancy.