The “Mindfire” album by Beyond Fallen is the first release by Melissa Records, a new Dutch label dedicated to US Metal.

Beyond Fallen released their first 4 song EP in 2003 and in 2005 they released the first full-length CD “Lost in the Shadows”, both of them were self-released. Guitarist Steve Jasuilewicz started the band in 2001, the line-up also includes Mike Johnson (guitar), Tom Carden (drums), Chuck Donahue (bass) and former Unleashed Power vocalist Joe Karavis.

On “Mindfire” Beyond Fallen has taken the best from heavy metal, thrash and power metal to make 10 great songs. Some of the songs like “Blood on the Ice” and “Enemy of an Open Mind” sounds a bit like Iced Earth, while some of the other stuff are influenced by Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Pantera’s “Cowboys From Hell”. They certainly know how to handle their instruments and the song writing is outstanding, but I have a problem with vocalist Joe Karavis, sometimes he sounds too much like Blaze Bayley and that isn’t good.

But besides the vocalist this album simply kills.