NorthTale – Eternal Flame
Release Date: 12th November 2021
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Pre-Order/Pre-Save
Genre: Metal, Power Metal.
FFO: Stratovarius, André Matos-era Angra, Keeper-era Helloween, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Gamma Ray.
Review By: Eric Wilt
NorthTale got its start as an outlet for Brazilian-American guitarist Bill Hudson “to start the band that [he] wasn’t able to when [he] was 16 years-old.” After years of playing in groups such as DORO, Jon Oliva’s PAIN, U.D.O., CIRCLE II CIRCLE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA and David Vincent’s I AM MORBID, Hudson felt the time was right for another go at power metal, a genre he cut his teeth on with Cellador in 2006. In NorthTale, Hudson is joined by Guilherme Hirose on vocals, Patrick Johansson on drums and percussion, Mikael Planefeldt on bass guitar, and Jimmy Pitts on keys.
When making Eternal Flame, the band’s sophomore album, NorthTale was forced to record with the members and producer, Dennis Ward, scattered around the globe. According to the band, the process was “surprisingly smooth,” considering the band itself boasts members from the US, Sweden, and Brazil, while producer Ward is located in Germany. This feat was accomplished in part thanks to the “ground-breaking Audio Movers software,” that allowed the band to “stream audio note-for-note in real time,” making the recording process as close to playing in the same room as their circumstances would allow.
Hudson may have begun his professional career as a member of Cellador, but NorthTale takes little to no influence from his previous band. Where Cellador’s music nodded to Dragonforce in that they crammed as many notes as possible into each song, NorthTale takes a more melodic approach to their version of power metal. Influenced by the likes of early Stratovarius, André Matos-era Angra, and Keeper-era Helloween, Eternal Flame is filled with song after song containing memorable melodies and anthemic choruses. While never derivative, NorthTale has definitely produced an album that fits seamlessly alongside the bands that have inspired them.
Highlights of the album include Only Human which will get 90s fans of the genre banging their heads. Another highlight is Future Calls, which is not only a banger, but also features guest vocals by the mighty Kai Hansen. You’ll be singing the chorus for days. Midnight Bells is a third highlight from the album that shows that NorthTale is capable of churning out some balls-to-the-wall seriously heavy metal. Finally, Ride the Storm will give fans of early Stratovarius fits of nostalgia.
What you get on Eternal Flame is some seriously well-written and flawlessly played power metal that nods to the classic bands of the 90s while being firmly cemented in the 21st century. At times heavy as steel while at other times melodic and catchy as a pop song, NorthTale does not disappoint. I am betting that Eternal Flame will gain NorthTale a legion of new fans while prompting many to take their first album, Welcome to Paradise, for a spin or two as well. 
(5 / 5)
