Gloryhammer have a winner on their hands. For True Metal fans this is a must.

They're back, Dundee's finest Gloryhammer return to take up their fight as Scotland's finest Metal Warriors. They began their struggle against the evil sorcerer Zargothrax on their first release, where he was defeated by the hero Angus McFife at the battle of Dunfermline and then frozen and imprisoned in liquid ice for a thousand years.

The new album takes up the tale many years later, when a group of evil wizards gather to release their Master from his dungeon of ice and then try to help him conquer the Universe. With the Galactic Empire and the Kingdom of Fife now in mortal danger, let battle commence.

Pure over the top Sci-Fi/Fantasy daftness I know but it's so good to hear this splendid Metal band once again that you'll soon find yourself so caught up in the music; you will be looking for your Claymore and shield, rooting for the good guys and hoping that once again they can save the day.

After the mandatory intro, the band soon hit their stride with 'Rise Of The Chaos Wizards', 'Legend Of The Astral Hammer', 'Goblin King Of The Darkstorm Galaxy', 'The Hollywood Hootsman' and 'Questlords Of Inverness (Ride To The Galactic Forest!)'. All the songs have galloping melodic riffs, chant-a-long choruses, choirs of backing vocalists and a Metal sound that has you reaching for the tennis racket, so some serious air guitar can be played.

Then Gloryhammer, who up until this point have been playing music that wants to pound you into insensibility, hit you with a disco song? I know sounds strange but 'Universe On Fire' has a Metal dance beat with programmed drums and keyboard sounds from the 1970s. It's the least heavy track on the album (funnily enough), however it's also a bloody great song and fits in perfectly with all the others.

Then finally comes the two tracks that, for me, sum up Gloryhammer in a nutshell; the grandiose 'Heroes (Of Dundee)' and the berserk 'Apocalypse 1992'. These two songs have had everything a Metal band needs to make a great song (including the kitchen sink) thrown into their mix. Hammering drums, wailing guitars, melodic keyboards and powerful vocals are all in evidence throughout these two Metal monsters. They are so good that they deserve the ancient mighty Scottish battle cry of "Crivens!" (copyright Sir Terry Pratchett!).

Bonkers, daft and nuts – yes indeed – but still absolutely brilliant; Gloryhammer have a winner on their hands. For True Metal fans this is a must.

Ian Johnson