Band:	Kiuas
Album:	The Spirit Of Ukko
Style:	Power metal
Release date:	April 2005

01. The Spirit Of Ukko
02. On Winds Of Death We Ride
03. No More Sleep For Me
04. Warrior Soul
05. Until We Reach The Shore
06. Across The Snows
07. Thorns Of A Black Rose
08. And The North Star Cried
09. Winter In June [Japanese bonus]

Let's check...Kiuas...a band from Finland...playing Power Metal... Many metalheads would despise this instantly, as the first thing one might think of Finnish Power Metal is bands like Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica, both, in my opinion, being quite average.

But Flower Metal, this is not! Really, I can't think of any other Power Metal band that is as heavy as this. Instead of high pitched vocals, we have raspy, almost growled vocals. The riffs are extremely thick, and not only fast, but complex. It's as catchy as a Helloween tune, while avoiding simpleness. It's also not filled with double bass drumming everywhere, but when they use it, they do it right. Just listen to the song "Warrior Soul".

All that alone is quite amazing, but there is more. In addition, this band has notable influences of other genres. You will find some Death Metal riffing, Thrashy solos, blast-beats, Folk melodies and Folk riffs. So the album won't feel boring as some generic Power Metal bands.

Highlights are the title track (check the fast solo that comes after the main solo), the popular "Warrior Soul", being also the most "Power Metal" song on the album, "Across the Snows", the Folkiest one, and believe it or not, "Winter In June", the bonus track. It comes from the same named EP, but I can't believe it isn't on the album. From the same EP there is another amazing song, "Song For The Fells", that isn't here. It has the same quality as these highlights, and should be checked.

There aren't really any bad songs here, so getting this album is more than recommended. There are also no ballads. Instead there are some slower songs, but they are still as heavy as the fast ones. Hear my words: with 2-3 more albums with this quality, Kiuas may become the next big Power Metal band. I think the genre really needs a new make up, and Kiuas really shows us how to do it. I don't think any "true" metalhead could despise this album. Not only recommended, but mandatory.