Power metal, in its myriad variations, is and I think always will be a strange beast, and it’s into this world that Guernsey trio Blacksmith (Adam Powell – Guitar and vocals, Iain Baxter – bass and vocals, Josh Davies – drums) have leaped feet first with their debut release, the Chapter One EP

Despite having been together for a few years you’d be forgiven for having missed Blacksmith as they’ve only gigged infrequently and as such haven’t yet made a tremendous impact on the island’s music scene.

That said each of their outings I’ve seen, including the band bedecked in a range of cosplay armour and the like, have been thoroughly enjoyable, and as such I was looking forward to finally hearing them ‘on record’.

Produced by Danny Joyce of local power metal titans Nemesis, the five track EP introduces us to the conceptual world created by the band with an opening monologue to rival Spinal Tap’s Stonehenge followed by an almost TV or film theme tune-like instrumental track.

The strangeness I suggested earlier in Blacksmith’s chosen style is one that comes with its inherent ridiculousness.

With the theme here focussing on the quest of a medieval ‘smith to vanquish an evil demon and his armies it’s clear this matches the conceptual scope of the likes of Iron Maiden’s Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son or Dio’s Holy Diver.

Thankfully, like those bands, it’s fairly clear that the band know how to tread the line between knowing what to take seriously (the music and the playing) and where to have fun (a sense of knowingness about the concept).

With that its fairly easy to be swept along.

What makes that even easier is how the standard power metal clichés of those aforementioned bands from the 1980s and their ilk is bolstered and updated with sounds that bring to mind early Machine Head and Cowboys From Hell era Pantera – both aspects that, as a fan of metal from the 1990s I strongly appreciate.

At only five tracks, including the opening overture, the EP seems to stop just as it’s getting into its stride and this, along with the recording lacking a certain punch, immediacy and heaviness, do give it a little too much of the feeling of being a very well made demo rather than a fully fledged record in its own right.

That said it makes for a good starting point for the band and has me wanting to hear more of the ongoing adventures of the Blacksmith and his wars with evil, though I would think if you weren’t already a fan of wall to wall power metal clichés you might find it all a bit overwhelming.