Misth may be a new band, but their origins go back to around 1990. That’s when Maria Rådsten began her singing career with the Swedish pop band One More Time. The group achieved moderate success, charting high in several European countries with their 1992 debut album Highland and competing in the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest. Shortly after that, however, One More Time’s popularity declined. Rådsten continued on as a solo artist, with the dream of one day finding a band that suited her taste for heavier rock. Mercury Fang entered the picture several years later. The Swedish hard rock outfit had released two albums before deciding to explore new territory and auditioning Rådsten as their new singer. Now, together as Misth, they’ve released their debut album Rise Of A New Day, a tour de force of classic and progressive rock that will floor the world of female-fronted music.

Rise Of A New Day features a host of traditional and modern styles. Throughout the album’s course, you’ll hear hard rock, heavy metal, ‘70s / ‘80s rock, and progressive traces. The sound that results is equal parts fun, emotive, and enduring. Every member of Misth gives standout performances on this album, particularly Fredrik Glimbrand and Håkan Granat for their dynamic twin guitars. Rådsten, however, will leave listeners agape. Boy, can this lady sing! At times, the raw power she displays isn’t far off from that of Lzzy Hale, Magali Luyten, or Floor Jansen (without the operatics). Rådsten also controls her voice extremely well and uses the full breadth of her vocal range. The musicians of Misth also chime in on background vocals frequently. So on numerous tracks, you get these massive refrains buoyed by a male "choir." It’s another reason why Rise Of A New Day is rife with that retro feel.

Despite the "progressive rock" label, Misth experiments less than other bands of their style do. Rise Of A New Day focuses more on energy, emotion, and versatility and less on complexity and dexterity. Each track bursts with different flavors and nuances, from exotic guitar flair and semi-symphonic bombast "Rise Of A New Day", to power-metal-esque intensity ("Sending Down An Angel"), to dramatic arrangements with slight shifts in time signature "I Call Your Name". Some songs also balance multiple styles and influences. "Life’s Arena" blasts off as animated metallic rock, then slows down for the more melodic, melancholy refrain. The 9½-minute "Day Of Retribution," on the other hand, unfolds like a novel, taking listeners on a journey through every corner of Misth’s sound.

Rise Of A New Day also offers a healthy serving of more concise tracks. The tightly composed "Unknown" sways with robust guitars as a charismatic Rådsten plays the part of a pretentious rising celebrity: "Supersonic, God I feel electric / Ultra special, so divine / Bring me stardom, fame, ‘cause I deserve it / All lights on me." Glimbrand joins Rådsten for lead vocals on "Everyday" to turn the gentle, autumnal ballad into a duet. His soulful tenor reminds me of ‘80s pop/rock icon Steve Winwood and fits the song perfectly. "Into The Void" churns with immense hard rock confidence and dizzying guitar and keyboard solos. And just when you thought Rådsten had already knocked out the mic earlier on the album, she closes out the song with a gravity-defying climb through vocal scales. (Confession: I love replaying "Into The Void" just to hear the ending!)

Very little goes amiss on Rise Of A New Day. All ten tracks are joys to discover and revisit. Only "Day Of Retribution" hits some friction, losing momentum as it wanders from the thunder of its gathering-clouds beginning. Otherwise, the only bumps that Misth hit are when they use clichés in the lyrics. Sayings such as "pitch in a perfect game," "judge the book by its cover," and especially "saved by the bell" (remember the TV show, anyone?) distract the listener and can cause a song’s overall impact to crack. More original or inventive wordplay would remedy this minor issue and truly let each track soar.

And even with those few blemishes, Misth aim high and strike the stratosphere with Rise Of A New Day. The authenticity, passion, and professionalism of their music is staggering – so much so that you’d swear Misth have been together for decades, not for a few years. Maybe that’s because every band member has been writing and performing music for at least 10 years. That collective experience shows in the material’s quality and timelessness. So if you love hard rock, classic rock, heavy metal, progressive music, or even power metal, grab a copy of Misth’s Rise Of A New Day. It may be the "femme metal" revelation of the year.

9.5 / 10

Highlights: "Rise Of A New Day," "Sending Down An Angel," "I Call Your Name," "Into The Void"

For Fans Of: Ayreon, Rush, ReVamp, Halestorm, Triosphere, A Sound Of Thunder, and Beyond The Bridge

Rise Of A New Day is out now and available to purchase through Misth’s webshop, iTunes, and Amazon. Visit Misth’s official website for other international platforms.