Mean Streak – Metal Slave

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Sweden’s Mean Streak seem to take most of their cues from Gamma Ray, Helloween and the Paul Dianno-fronted version of Iron Maiden, and as examples of that style go, they’re mostly on the nail. The Battle Within may just have well have been on Killers, and is a great, driving track, but the title track goes a step too far with the Maiden comparison, being a complete rip-off of their patented bass intros and twin guitar riffs, albeit more from the Blaze Bayley-fronted era than the Dianno years. Equally Eyes of A Stranger isn’t a cover of the Maiden song, but might just as well have been a Saxon one. Sin City Lights comes straight from the Scorpions‘ songbook, but it’s The Seventh Sign which is by far their strongest track. A different pace to the rest, and a very different vocal melody, means they don’t sound quite so identitcal Helloween and Maiden. There are hints on various tracks that Mean Streak could carve out an identity of their own, but at the moment they sound too similar to the legends of the genre to be taken entirely seriously on their own merit.

Written by Andy Lye
More: Albums, Power Metal, Quick.Play Reviews, Mean Streak