Fast, loud, and full of energy, Amaranthe’s newest full-length, The Nexus, is a full-on scifi-tinged explosion of speed metal, achieving escape velocity from the sound of its first note. The Swedish sextet have been climbing the ladder of the world’s metal scene, and this newest collection of propulsive energy will no doubt strap a rocket under them and launch them into the stratosphere.

Called a “futuristic dream nightmare” by guitarist and co-founder Olof Mörck, the album kicks off with an decidedly Mega Man sounding “Afterlife”, which showcases the triple vocals of singers Andy, Jake E, and Elize. It’s this interesting dynamic between singers that is the cornerstone of the band’s sound. The sheer velocity of the music really does call to mind the soundtracks to Capcom games from the early-mid ’90s, though the band’s pop instincts show through in tracks like “Burn With Me”, and its more techno side emerges in “Electroheart” and “Razorblade”. This push and pull between the brutal and the candy floss, between the scream and the wail, furthers the story at the heart of The Nexus, one of fighting against unseen faceless oppressors and using the machines of the present to build a shining metal future. The closing track, “Transhuman”, especially captures this idea of becoming more than ordinary, being greater than human.