A lot of times, I can be pretty biased and immediately dismiss certain kinds of music or artists based on my mood that day—especially if something feels gimmicky. And at the risk of igniting World War III against me, I have to confess: I absolutely can’t stand bands like Powerwolf, Sabaton, or even things like Babymetal.

That said, a few days ago, I saw an Instagram ad for an artist called ARMAGELION, and all I can think is that it must’ve caught me on a good day—or maybe, if you ask Freud, the real reason I didn’t instinctively snub it is that, unlike the bands I just mentioned, this one didn’t come with a horde of fanatics (yet), which sometimes can encourage me to be a contrarian for the sake of it (yeah, I am getting old and grumpy!).

I saw this guy with puffy hair, a weird mask, and a trident, and my first thought was: Damn, that actually looks pretty cool! You might get Lordi vibes for a second, but to me, this is a throwback to a part of the ’80s that isn’t explored much in the music scene. We’ve seen plenty of ’80s Metal revival in both sound and visuals—whether it’s NWOTHM or the New Wave of Thrash. There’s also a ton of synth-pop and post-punk echoes across other genres, with red jackets, neon lights, and e-drums tracing back to a movement that really took off after Kavinsky’s soundtrack for ‘Drive’.

But ARMAGELION? That’s a mix of ‘Masters of the Universe’ and ‘Flash Gordon’, thrown into ‘Tron’, with the ‘Top Gear’ soundtrack playing in the background.

ARMAGELION also comes with a few surprises. First off, the project hails from Dallas, Texas. No intention of putting 300+ million people in a box, but this is definitely not the kind of music or visuals I’d expect to come out of the U.S, especially from the current heavy music scene. Another unexpected twist? When I first saw the covers, the aesthetic, and the ad, I immediately braced myself for something very Power Metal-ish. So I was genuinely surprised to find that this is, at its core, majorly Hard Rock with a heavy dose of AOR. Think Sylvester Stallone movie soundtracks from the ’80s (Ha!).

All those little things—or, again, maybe I was just having a really good day—kept me engaged. If this were a Finnish band cranking out Power Metal anthems about mythological sea creatures, I probably would’ve gotten all I needed from the ad and moved on. But, man—those guitar riffs, the tasty synths everywhere, the drums buried in reverb, the bubblegum choruses… oof! And on top of all that, the guy can sing!

Review

ARMAGELION‘s first single, ‘Lie to Me‘, dropped in 2023, followed by four more singles that culminated in a self-titled EP released in 2024. This initial material has one foot in Glam, but in my opinion, it leans much more into AOR. It reminds me a lot of bands like Blackfoot and Survivor (Frontiers Records is sleeping on this project!).

This January, a brand-new track called ‘Fallen Angel‘ was released, and this time, there’s a stronger hint of Metal, shifting the sound slightly from Hard Rock meets AOR to Metal meets AOR. That said, everything still feels cohesive—the vocals have a strong signature, the synths are unmistakable, and the new material blends seamlessly with what ARMAGELION has already put out.

The track is really strong, featuring an insanely catchy chorus with some fantastic guitar and keyboard themes. I may need a bit more time to fully absorb the older material, but based on my listening so far, this might just be their best track yet.

It’s smartly crafted—punchy, high-energy, just over three and a half minutes, and undeniably pop. I know I tend to make these kinds of predictions, but if this project continues to grow, I can absolutely see ‘Fallen Angel‘ becoming the go-to concert opener—until it inevitably earns its place as the encore. It’s got that perfect sing-along quality, and I can already picture the crowds going crazy, shouting that chorus at the top of their lungs.

I have a bit of a weird recommendation—and maybe ARMAGELION won’t be thrilled about it—but I promise, it comes from the best place.

There’s a video on YouTube of them playing their song ‘Say You Love Me Again‘ live at what looks like a house party. It kicks off with a guy casually walking out of a back door, and the whole setup—combined with the guys in full costumes—just looks hilarious. But then, just like with the ad, just like with the covers, you take a second to actually listen… and you realize: Damn, these guys sound really good!

Here they are, in what might be a house party (okay, maybe it’s not, but it sure looks like one), in a poorly filmed video, under bad lighting—and yet, they still deliver! The vocals? No over-the-top effects or edits—just raw, awesome singing! And beyond that, the dude has stage presence. He’s dramatic. He owns it!

So, here’s your lesson for the day, kids: Never underestimate ARMAGELION… or they’ll poke your bottoms with their trident! 

Conclusion

What can I say? It might be a little cheesy, but it’s my kind of cheesy. And I’ll give this guy extra points if it’s all tongue-in-cheek—more Twisted Sister, less Manowar. I love the logo. I think the name is pure futuristic ’80s. I love that the guys is the character, the mascot (and, man, do I love a good mascot?). He’s in all the artwork, all the videos, and he looks live exactly like he does on the covers. ARMAGELION is a larger-than-life character, and I respect that they are all-in.

Their Spotify bio says, “ARMAGELION isn’t just an artist—it’s a movement.” And honestly? If you’re going to do it, go hard. No concessions.

I’m in. I’m sold and I believe in you, guys!

Prepare for ARMAGELION!

TheNwothm Score: 8/10

Links

Bandcamp: https://armagelion.bandcamp.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArmagelionOficial/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armagelion/