Review: Induction – Love Kills!

Reigning Phoenix Music (February 6^th, 2026)

Reviewer – Jason Hopper

Power metallers Induction have been making a name for themselves on the metal scene, releasing two well-received albums since their inception a little over ten years ago. Line-up changes have slowed their progress a bit, but that is looking to change with this new full length release, ‘Love Kills!‘. Founding guitarist Tim Hansen (son of legendary guitarist Kai Hansen) has assembled a line-up that he believes will continue the upward trajectory the band is perceived to be on. Based on this new recording, I believe him to be correct.

‘Love Kills!‘ has a strong collection of songs that are sure to please all metal fans. If you have never heard them before, I would describe them as a Beast in Black/Bloodbound/Powerwolf hybrid. The songs are quite diverse, so everyone will have different favorites. For me, the best tracks are found in the latter half of the album. I’ll start with the reason I wanted to review this album, the kick-ass title track.

The rhythm may not be as fast paced as other tracks on the album, but its melody and effective use of keys bring the chorus to life in a way that grabs the listener and shoves that earworm so deep into your ear canal that it will not leave your head for days. A showcase for the band’s ability to construct fantastically heavy yet melodic melodies.

‘I Am Evil’ is a straight up tribute to Bloodbound. There is a Bloodbound song called ‘I’m Evil’, but this is not a cover of that song. The keyboards take center stage, with the guitar providing underlying heft. The lyrics are clichéd for sure, but the catchiness of the keyboard melodies simply wins me over.

Their press release states they recently toured with metal legends Accept. That band’s influence certainly rubbed off on them with album closer ‘Empress’. In particular, the chorus, which cribs a bit from their classic track ‘Princess of the Dawn’. The band goes for minor chords, with singer Gabriele Gozzi going for a lower, more forceful delivery of his lines that is a perfect counterbalance to the more high energy verses and bridge. Usually I detest choruses that diminish the power built up by a strong opener or verse, but Gabriele’s growl delivery brings a menace that resonates long after the track is over. His best vocal delivery.

One more song I would like to highlight is ‘Strangers to Love’. I love metal songs that feature vocal duties shared by both a male and female singer. This mid-tempo powerhouse melds Gabriele’s vocals perfectly with an unknown female singer. She sounds familiar, but I can’t quite place her voice. As of this writing, there is no mention of who she is in the press release or anywhere on the internet. I would love to give her credit as she elevates a good song to great status.

Other recent singles like ‘Dark Temptation’, ‘Beyond Horizons’, and ‘Steel and Thunder’, display the heavier side of the band. All great tracks that showcase the variability of their melodies.

As stated earlier, there are tracks that all will love to varying degrees. All the songs are great, and personal preferences to their greatness will vary based on the various metallic constructs. The band has previously been labeled as progressive, but that genre did not cross my mind as I listened to these tracks. This is high quality euro power metal. If any of the adjacent bands that I mentioned are to your fancy, then definitely give this one a go. Metal is alive and well in 2026.