Burning Point
Burned Down the Enemy

April 2007
Released: 2007, Metal Heaven/Border Music
Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewer: Anders Sandvall

Burning Point has had a very rocky start in the music business. After releasing their debut album SALVATION BY FIRE in 2001 and FEEDING THE FLAMES in 2003, they suffered some problems with their label and were dropped. Nevertheless, the band came back after sending out a new demo to various record labels and Metal Heaven signed them. These Finns are now going to release their third album; one which leaves a bit to be desired.

Burning Point plays keyboard-based melodic power metal that despite the keyboards is pretty heavy. Of course, when it comes to any kind of music style that is melodic, the songs are really catchy and the lyrics are easily remembered. The band’s music is similar to Hammerfall, Helloween, Edguy, and Gamma Ray.

The material is solid throughout the album and the speed is quite fast with tempo changes and guitar duels, just like it should be. The production includes all of the elements needed to make a good-sounding album. The keyboards are maybe a little too high in the mix and there could have been a little more focus on heavier guitar; otherwise there is nothing bad to say about the production in general. The only thing to comment on when it comes to the 11 songs is the singer’s extremely high-pitched vocals that he can’t pull off well. He’s definitely not Tobias Sammet or Andy Deris vocal-wise.

If you’re a fan of Edguy or any other melodic power metal act you will probably find Burning Point interesting, but again, beware of the singer. It’s a little too melodic for me and the singer gives me the shivers, but not shivers of joy. BURNED DOWN THE ENEMY has its moments, but in the long run there aren’t enough of them to keep it interesting. Instead, I would prefer to listen to Edguy or Helloween if I’m in the mood for power metal. But for those of you that simply can’t get enough of Burning Point, buy the limited edition of the album with the three bonus tracks.

Burning Point
Burned Down the Enemy

April 2007
Released: 2006, Metal Heaven
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: Mortuai

Finnish power-metallers Burning Point are back on a new label and pick up right where they left off, delivering razor-sharp speedy riffs, excellent musicianship, good lyrical content, and an apparently incurable case of pyromaniacal obsession. Like fellow Finns Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica, Burning Point weave keyboard lines in and amongst the riffage, especially during the slower, more melody-laden tracks like "Heart Of Gold." While keys have always been present in previous Burning Point releases, they've become more prevalent on this album with the addition of a full-time keyboard player to the band's lineup. Fortunately, they're used primarily for atmosphere and reinforcement of themes, detracting nothing from the superb guitar work.



Unlike the singers in the aforementioned groups, vocalist / guitarist Pete Ahonen does not stretch for the stratosphere in terms of his vocals, instead sticking to a melodic midrange which at times recalls the stylistics of Tobias Sammet of Edguy and on some occasions conjures up a hint of Matt Barlow (ex-Iced Earth). To these ears, it's a welcome difference, one that helps set the band apart from their countrymen and the glut of double-bass-drum keyboards-and-shred-guitar-laden power metal groups out there.



One such difference does not a totally original work make, unfortunately, and Burning Point suffers from the "more of the same" syndrome to an extent. While they mix it up effectively between the fast & furious and the slow & melodic, after listening to a few tracks of each, you start to get the feeling you have heard this all before. This does not necessarily make this a bad album by any stretch of the imagination, just one that won't stand out in your mind as anything exceptionally memorable.



The bottom line is if you're a fan of the genre, chances are you'll highly enjoy this slab of metallic pyrotechnics. It is well written, excellently produced, and played with conviction, and that makes it a worthwhile listen in my book.