Just around eighteen months ago Italian power metal outfit Skeletoon unleashed their tribute to all things eighties power metal - and The Goonies - titled They Never Say Die. The self proclaimed nerd metal (or happy metal) band apparently doesn’t need a lot of time to churn out yet another storm of power metal goodness as Nemesis (their fourth full length) proves to be another heavy hitter from the Nerd Metal Superheroes. After a short token intro you’re thrown into the action with a megaton blast of double bass drums and Tomi Fooler’s best shout to date as Brighter Than 1000 Suns is let loose. A furious blast of pure Helloween style old school power metal, clashing guitar harmonies and swirling space keyboards beneath a Fooler’s insane high notes, it’s a testament to just how great Skeletoon are when nothing holds them back. Needless to say, the album opens magnificently. 

The rest of the runtime is certainly dynamic and filled with several great songs that take to the ultimate spaces and beyond. Alessandro Conti (Trick or Treat, Twilight Force) guests on Will You Save Us All?, which is perhaps most notable for its sweeping lead guitars, noting the great work of Andrea Cappellari and Davide Piletto. Cold the Night slows down a fair bit, attempting for a slower, more epic touch in a semi ballad that just doesn’t quite work; the choirs in the chorus are too much, given the laid back approach of the verses. Obviously the strongest material Skeletoon has to offer is the stuff that hearken to Helloween’s bygone days and following the speedy, melodic uplifting power metal formula, capped with massive, memorable choruses (they say those are the most important element of a power metal song). It may be tried and true in many respects, but when you pull it off as flawlessly as Skeletoon do in their brightest moments there’s no stopping it anyway.