In the 21st century, the power metal scene isn't just veteran headbangers like
Judas Priest,
Iron Maiden, and
Queensrÿche, it's also power metal revival bands such as
Symphony X,
Iron Savior,
Morifade,
DragonForce, and
Rhapsody. The difference between the older power metallers and the younger power metal revival acts is not a stylistic difference but rather, a matter of when a band came along; stylistically, the power metal revival combos that were formed in the '90s or 2000s are consistently mindful of the power metal artists who started recording in the late '70s or '80s. That is certainly true of the Sweden-based vocalist of
Hammerfall,
Joacim Cans, who maintains his devotion to old-school power metal throughout his solo project
Beyond the Gates. This 2004 release offers no acknowledgment of post-'80s trends in alternative metal; there are no chugging or downtuned guitars on
Beyond the Gates, and the disc is totally oblivious to alt metal favorites like
Sevendust,
Korn,
Slipknot, and
Limp Bizkit. When
Beyond the Gates is playing, one is transported back to a time when Ronald Reagan was president of the United States, Margaret Thatcher was prime minister of England and power metal was ruled by the melodic yet forceful likes of
Iron Maiden,
Judas Priest,
Grim Reaper, and
Queensrÿche. For all their intensity, those old-school headbangers were undeniably musical and intricate, and the same goes for Cans. Melody and aggression are equally important on
Beyond the Gates, which has a real sense of craftsmanship and is never about brutality for the sake of brutality. This highly derivative CD won't score any points for originality, but it's an enjoyably decent, if predictable, effort that will appeal to headbangers who still hold their old
Savatage and
King Diamond albums in high regard. ~ Alex Henderson