Swedish metal giants Dream Evil roar back into the limelight with their blistering new album, Metal Gods. Seven long years have passed since their last album, SIX, but the wait has been worth every second. Metal Gods is packed with ten ferocious tracks that accomplish the difficult task of living up to the album’s title.

With a title like Metal Gods, you know you’re in for a heavy dose of pure steel. The album’s anthemic power is amplified by the return of producer Fredrik Nordström. Known for his work with genre giants like In Flames, At The Gates, and Arch Enemy, Nordström takes the reins not only as the producer but also as a guitarist and mixing engineer at his fabled Studio Fredman. His touch alone ensures that Metal Gods delivers a sound as massive as its name.

Fans of Dream Evil’s earlier works like Dragonslayer and The Book Of Heavy Metal will find much to love here. The album opens with the thunderous title track, a headbanger’s anthem that channels the spirit of classic heavy metal, with its relentless riffs and soaring vocals. It takes balls to write a song with the same name and theme as a Judas Priest classic, but if heavy metal isn’t about having balls, I don’t know what is.

The rest of the record follows suit, with standout tracks like “Chosen Force,” “The Tyrant Dies At Dawn,” and “Lightning Strikes” showcasing Dream Evil’s knack for blending old-school metal intensity with the energy of kids hearing metal for the first time. “Fight In The Night” and “Masters Of Arms” are brutal and anthemic, perfect for pumping your fist in the air. Meanwhile, “Born In Hell” and “Insane” dive into darker, more aggressive territory, revealing a side of Dream Evil that’s more intense but just as melodic. “Night Stalker” and “Y.A.N.A.” wrap up the album with a fierceness, leaving no doubt that Dream Evil are back and looking to reign over the metal scene.