Astralism - Astral Doors

'Astralism' finally sees a (slight) turnaround in Sweden's Astral Doors from throwback Dio worshippers to a serious competitor in modern power metal, even if the band's writing process and lyrical influences seem a little laughable. While heavy metal isn't exactly renowned for its lyrical prowess, and literary influence is often limited to the horror best-sellers list or the most recent Hollywood novel adaptation, this release sees Astral Doors tackle subjects as diverse as the Ark of the Covenant, Oliver Twist and EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon, otherwise known as static and wind passed off as ghost communication), all condensed into three and a half minute treatments ...