EXCALION’s brand new ”Once Upon a Time” is nothing short of a statement album from a band at its musical peak. The group’s sixth record, third with the current line-up spearheaded by Marcus Lång’s forceful vocals, introduces a seasoned melodic metal powerhouse with a signature sound and unmistakable originality. The new masterpiece echoes EXCALION’s artistic history from their prog metal and power metal roots to the classic 80’s rock influences we know and love – all brought together in a delicious mix of modern and traditional that is well and truly their own. A product of a group by now perfectly gelled and masters of their art, “Once Upon a Time” is all about powerful, intense and emotional songs, in which technical virtuosity shines through not as an end in itself, but as a vehicle of expression – just listen to Aleksi Hirvonen’s lead and solo work, whose subtlety and style serve to tell a story within a song, a far cry from run-of-the-mill guitar heroism.

The towering voice of Lång rules on top of it all, ranging from imposing screams to soft and atmospheric passages, matched by very few in the genre or outside it. Building upon and improving on their previous work “Emotions”, EXCALION continues to craft metal anthems infused with feeling, this time with a wider range of influences than ever before, also venturing into some of their fastest and heaviest stuff to date. While tracks like “Resolution” and “Soulbound” captivate with their instant-hit quality, turbocharged drumming and booming basswork, the next thing you know EXCALION serves you truly heart-rending power ballads in “When a Moment Turns Into a Lifetime” and “Eternals”, where the interplay between Lång’s voice and elegant keyboard arrangements makes a striking impact. Add in the chilling portrayal of insanity in “Amuse Me” and the colossal majesty of the titular “Once Upon a Time” and “Radiant Halo”, and you have an album that takes you for a ride and never stops.