Well, you take one look at the guys, and they look mostly like your average melodic death band, with one exception: Singer Antony looks like he was drafted directly from some goth band, complete with eye make-up and the likes. But honestly, that has nothing to do with the music; it's just so comical, the way the surprise gets bigger when you actually put the album in the CD-player and you get Iron Maiden flowing from the speakers. Yes, exactly - the guys of MACHINE MEN probably all have Maiden posters on the walls of their rooms, and that is reflected very thoroughly in the music.

However, this is most obvious when frontman Antony opens his mouth. Man, I didn't know that Bruce Dickinson had a kid brother, if this brother had the same impressive pipes as 'The Air-Raid Siren', that is. The similarities are unbelievable! The eight songs of Scars & Wounds offer pure Maiden steel (new school), in the vein of Brave New World and Dance Of Death, but somehow the guys have managed to mix some own elements into the whole, as well. Melodic, and even though mostly mid-tempo, there are also some faster tunes. Songs that immediately manage to spellbind me are Against The Freaks (reminds me a lot of Wildest Dreams and Rainmaker from Dance of Death), Silver Dreams (somehow very reminiscent of The Wicker Man from Brave New World), the pounding riffster Victim and final track Scars & Wounds where the band moves cunningly between mid-tempo and ballad. Antony's vocals here are very emotional and beautiful. Gothic elements can be found in this song, as well.

Overall a nice mix, even though the album is way too short. Eight tracks? No, if the label intends to charge full price, they have to offer more than this. Another minus would be the fact that the Maiden influences (even though they're done well) sometimes get way TOO obvious. Other than that, all you Maiden lovers and other fans of Finnish melodic metal have my full endorsement.

Choice cuts: Against The Freaks, Silver Dreams, Victim, Scars & Wounds