Excalion is a band from Finland, formed in 2001 by Jarmo ”Jappe” Myllyvirta (Keyboards), Henri Pirkkalainen (drums), Timo Sahlberg (bass) and Tero Vaaja (guitar). Later Jarmo Pääkkönen (vocals) and Kimmo Hänninen (guitar) joined the band. At first they played power metal but later it changed to playing covers from another Finnish band we all know by the name of Stratovarius. Excalion is obviously very influenced by this band. In 2003 Excalion made a demo, Because of this demo, at the end of 2003 the band signed a deal with Sound Riot Records. Excalion’s debut album was released in May 2005, named “Primal Exhale”.

As I heard the intro of the first song “Tempation Wasteland” I was convinced I was listening to a new album of Stratovarius. When Jarno started singing, I realised I was listening to a band that played Stratovarius songs, but in a very pleasant way.

The vocals of Jarno are a few octaves lower thanthose of Timo Kotipelto. I actually like it even better, Jarno has a great metal voice with a lot of power. “Temptation Wasteland” could be a part of the Elements part 1-CD of , you guessed it, Stratovarius.
There are a few up-tempo songs (“Reality Bends”, “Stage Of Lies”, “My Legacy”) and “Heart And Home” is a beautiful ballad. When Excalion slows down a little bit, they show their real strength (“Dire Waters”, Megalomania”, “Obsession To Prosper”).

Normally I don’t like bands that imitate other bands but Excalion is an exception, with “Primal Exhale” they made an album with great songs and a great sound. I think and I hope we will hear a lot of this band in the future.