The members of  Finnish Epic Fantasy Metal band Battlelore have so far devoted their career to the works of legendary author J.R.R. Tolkien - having produced six studio albums so far, of which Doombound is the latest, this shows enormous commitment to their chosen subject. The question is, can their listeners share their enthusiasm after so long?

Many Metal bands look for inspiration in novels, poetry, folklore and legends but it's unusual to stick rigidly to one source of imagery. There is always a new generation ready to discover Lord of the Rings but over the last decade in particular, a huge franchise has built up around those books, spawning movies, toys and even computer games. Can Battlelore really bring anything fresh to the subject?

The answer, in a word, is no. There is no doubting the care and attention that has gone into this album. It is lovingly produced and crafted, the songs delivered competently and with great seriousness but the lyrics, despite being about Túrin Turambar, are bland enough to be lifted from any Epic Metal song you happened to hear. If the listener wasn't told that the album was based on this character, I doubt that any but the most ardent Tolkien fans would pick up on it. Recent superb concept albums from Carach Angren about The Flying Dutchman and Cradle of Filth - who always provide a masterclass in storytelling - can't help but highlight the lack of structure in Doombound. Concept albums are difficult to pull off successfully and must be forged with total conviction to fully work - after so many Tolkien-based records, you have to wonder if Battlelore are losing sight of that.

Musically, the album is solid, providing no surprises and sticking to the Epic genre faithfully. Each track is pleasant to listen to, though only one - the beautiful Enchanted - stands out as essential listening. The twin voices of Tomi Mykkänen and Indonesian singer Kaisa Jouhki are used throughout the album to good effect but on this track, Kaisa is given the lead vocal and she shines, her haunting soprano soaring over the swelling music with a skill that easily rivals contemporaries like Sharon den Adel and Liv Kristine. Tomi's voice is suitable for his role but occasionally it's hard not to wish that the band was led entirely by Kaisa.

Fans of Epic Metal will definitely find plenty to enjoy in the traditional sounds of Bow And Helm, Olden Gods and the lengthy title track but it's doubtful that Battlelore will attract any new fans to the genre and frankly, their Tolkien addiction does little to assist them. It's going to be hard to break away from their history but perhaps Battlelore should try - with their competence and the sheer force they have in Kaisa, they could create a concept album which stands amongst the greatest produced. Sadly, enjoyable as it is, Doombound won't be remembered as one of them.

Score - 5.5 out of 10