Recent Reviews

March 2025

February 2025

January 2025

December 2024

November 2024

[ More Music Reviews ]


Power Theory: Driven By Fear
Power Theory Driven By Fear CD Album Review

Power Theory: Driven By Fear

Heavy/Power Metal
4.5/5.0

Facebook
Pure Steel Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 02.10.2015

Power Theory, based in nearby Philadelphia, is more than a little misplaced in time and place. You see, Power Theory plays classic heavy power metal, you know, like the old school, keep it true, variety. Not exactly the genre that falls off the lips of the current American metal scene. Their best chances are probably found in the UK and Europe. It makes sense that Germany's Pure Steel Records keeps them around, for their latest long-player Driven By Fear.

Power Theory Driven By Fear Band Photo

Power Theory

Up first, some simple personnel accounting. With guitarist Rob Ballinger the only stable member, the band has expanded to a quintet, with twin guitarists and, more notably, a new vocalist in Jeff Rose (Metadox, ex-Livesay). With little recollection of the previous vocalist, suffice to say Rose fits the Power Theory sound. He's got the metal mixture of pliable scream and quiver, yet with melody and a touch of gruffness.

After this, for their heavy metal, Power Theory is neither re-inventing the wheel nor getting experimental. It's the tried and true American power metal formula: twin guitar harmonies, brisk and blistering leads, and a rumbling and pummeling double bass drum driven rhythm section. Toss in catchy lyrics, refrains, a few gang vocals to back up Rose, and then wrap up everything in the proper amount of groove and melody, and it's heavy power metal Shangri-La. For guitar lovers, the riffs are pretty boss and the leads abundant, definitely a showcase once more for Ballinger. To be fair, Power Theory tries mix in some nuances, slight embellishments, to their genre definitive power metal. Driven By Fear has this lush and atmospheric, almost orchestrated, opening, that's probably simply guitar synths, but it sounds cool. Dark Eagle also, but the effect is nearly choral in feeling. Yet both songs quickly explode into charging heavy metal.

So, the naysayers will call Power Theory and Driven By Fear, many things, probably mostly derivitive and predictable. But fans of true metal will say, with a metal horns (or middle finger) salute, "Power Theory is the real deal. Up the irons." Recommended.

Power Theory - Cut and Run


CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

In Short

So, the naysayers will call Power Theory and Driven By Fear, many things, probably mostly derivitive and predictable. But fans of true metal will say, with a metal horns (or middle finger) salute, "Power Theory is the real deal. Up the irons." Recommended.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Gotthard: Stereo Crush Album Review

Here's a fun fact about Swiss legends, Gotthard: their last 16 releases, excepting their debut album, went to number one in their home country, making them one of Switzerland's most successful acts and ... [ Read More ]