Right from the start, if you are into traditional '80s heavy metal, you know this is bound to be a fun album. The clean vocals are a joy to the ears, singalong-inducing and many of the choruses just stick in your head. The guitar riffs just scream '80s, sometimes reminding me of Judas Priest, and some of the solos have a Maiden-esque ring to them. This is not overly aggressive and kind of "commercial" (but not quite), sometimes flirting with hard rock territory but staying on the metal side of the fence. The vocals, front and centre, have a lot to do with that feeling as the singer often turns to more accessible melodies with a style that wasn't stranger to some radio stations back in the day. Kingmaker certainly has that style of the golden age, albeit with a noticeably modern production. If you need an album to lift your spirits and rock the hell out, Kingmaker is a good candidate to fit that bill.
