From Hell With Love

More power metal bands need that 80s training montage vibe. Until then, Finnish fighters Beast in Black (a spin-off from the also-named-after-an-anime-character Battle Beast) proudly take the Jean Claude Van Damme energy all the way to the big stage at Wacken. Keyboard-driven sing-along anthems like “Sweet Little Lies” and “Cry Out for a Hero” are inherently cheesy, but they’re delivered with such passion and immaculate songcraft it’s hard to resist punching your fist in the air to them. Nary a trace of irony to be found. Album highlight “Die By the Blade” (of the one you love to hate, natch) will inspire you to sharpen your sword on your nemesis’s ribcage.