Odd timing, this music business, as former guitarist Jani Liimatainen, recently issued his new project, Cain’s Offering (alongside Stratovarius vocalist Timo Kotipelto), now Altaria release album #5. It’s easy to see why Jani split, for while Altaria call Finland home, the music is more Germanic, pop-flavored power metal (‘Warriorÿ’), hence they were initially snapped up by Deutsch label Metal Heaven).

Vocal inadequacies are evident on the slower ‘The Lake’ (a tale of murder somewhere between the Finns infamous Lake Bodom and Crystal Lake of the Friday The 13th movies). An acoustic begun ‘Danger Zone’ quickly rides a B-grade Survivor retread. The Priestly twin guitars opening ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ (no, not the Bette Midler Beaches song) get things back on track. ‘Ready’ is a throwback to the simplicity of the 80s Sunset Strip, before closing with a mid-tempo rocker, ‘Underdog’.

A very uneven outing.