The female-fronted scene has been gathering steam for a number of years and Battle Beast remains at the forefront of this increasingly popular subgenre. Formed in Helsinki in 2008, Battle Beast has toured with the likes of Nightwish, Sonata Arctica and Sabaton. They initially rode the wave of old-school metal revivalism with a sound indebted to Judas Priest, Helloween and early 80s power metal in general. A shift in vocal lineup and evolving musical ambitions inspired a change in direction, resulting in more accessible tracks on the band’s self-titled sophomore album. Follow-up ‘Unholy Savior’ even topped the Finnish charts. The departure of lead guitarist and principal songwriter Anton Kabanen periodically halted their development, but their fourth full-length, ‘Bringer of Pain’, took the stadium anthem approach with catchy choruses and over-the-top vocals to the next level, resonating strongly with fans in the US and Japan. Their latest outing ‘Steelbound’ (2025) casts a wide net with expertly executed tracks that are also palatable to non-metal fans. If you’re into Doro, Nightwish, Sabaton et al, Battle Beast will definitely slake your thirst. (#GMM26)
