Persuader - Evolution Purgatory (2004)

I sometimes have to look back at this blog to remind myself of what I thought of earlier work of some artists.  Swedish band Persuader debuted in 2000 with THE HUNTER, which I noticed I rated two and a half stars, and commented on how vocalist Jens Carlsson sounds like a lot like Hansi Kursch, helping to give them a sound similar to early Blind Guardian.  It took them four years before the quartet recorded their follow-up, Evolution Purgatory, and there's certainly no more I can say about the vocal comparison than yep, he sounds like he grew out of Kursch's side.
The material is fast and furious throughout, something along the lines of Brainstorm or Paragon, and while it isn't my favourite style of power metal (although I do like those two bands), it's quite grabbing all the same; if I was in a more fussy mood, I might rate this lower (maybe I was fussy when listening to their debut), but I'll just say there's enough to like here to make it worthwhile.

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