Magic Kingdom: MetAlmighty (AFM, 2019)

It’s been a few years since we’ve seen a new album from Belgian guitar wizard Dushan Petrossi. The last Magic Kingdom album was 2015’s Savage Requiem and the last Iron Mask album was 2016’s Diabolica. The coin came up heads (I assume that’s how he decides), so it’s time for another Magic Kingdom album. It’s also time for another Magic Kingdom vocalist apparently. This time around none other than Mike Vescera (Obsession, ex-Loudness, ex-Malmsteen) is on board, replacing Christian Palin.

The new Magic Kingdom album is titled MetAlmighty (as in “metal almighty”), and it’s the band’s fifth release. Much like the four that came before it, MetAlmighty is a high-speed power metal album with heavy doses of Malmsteen-inspired neoclassical shredding. Petrossi isn’t “all noodling, all the time” though. He puts as much thought into the melodies and song structures as he does his solos, which is a plus. This one feels almost as much Stratovarius as it does Malmsteen, though Vescera’s instantly recognizable voice does bolster the Yngwie vibe. He’s so perfect for this kind of metal, and while his voice is showing his age a bit, he still turns in a very solid performance here.

Right from the start (Unleash The Dragon!) you’re going to be singing along to these songs. “Wizards And Witches,” “Fear My Fury,” “Dark Night, Dark Thoughts”…the whole album is one catchy, flashy power metal song after another.

It’s always good to see Dushin Petrossi revisiting the Magic Kingdom. He has a great formula here, and he’s found a perfect partner in Mike Vescera. This one is recommended for fans of Iron Mask, Yngwie Malmsteen, Stratovarius, Rhapsody and Freedom Call.