In certain circles, the name OZ is uttered in hushed, almost reverential tones - and, no it's nothing to do with some midget hiding behind a big curtain, pretending to be an all-powerful wizard and with an unhealthy interest in young girls in red shoes!

This particular OZ is an almost-legendary heavy metal band from the frozen wastelands of Finland who seemed to have disappeared into the mists of folklore and mythology, with many younger fans actually daring to question the sanity of their hairy, elder brethren and question the existence of such a mysterious outfit.

Well, doubt no longer, ye young upstarts - because OZ are very much real, and they're back... and coming out fighting the corner of true heavy metal, with an album that will bring a tear to the eye of those diehard fans who have waited 20 years for it, and also demonstrates that there is much more to Scandinavian metal than screaming about Satan! It may by the resurgence in interest in music from that part of the world that spurred the band's founding trio of vocalist Ape DeMartini, bassist Jay C Blade and drummer Mark Ruffneck to dust the cobwebs off OZ, but, whatever the reason, there will be many who are glad he did.

'Burning Leather' is 11 tracks of good old-fashioned retro metal, very much in the vein of Saxon, DiAnno-era Iron Maiden, 'British Steel' vintage Priest, the Scorpions, Accept... you get the picture?  Driving, pounding rhythms, soaring twin guitars and histrionic vocals - oh, and the obligatory naff lyrics from a Euro band who don't have English as their first language - are all thrown into the mix of re-recorded old tracks such as 'Search Lights' (from their 1983 debut album, 'Heavy Metal Heroes'), the classic 'Turn The Cross Upside Down', 'Fire In The Brain' and 'Third Warning' and new tunes such as opener 'Dominator' (the first single and accompanied by one of the best old-school '80s metal tribute videos you're likely to see) and the title track.

It's nothing new or innovative, but it's a good solid, traditional heavy metal album from a good old-fashioned heavy metal band. It's definitely worth taking a trip down the yellow brick road to find this particular OZ (although I'd leave the schoolgirl in the pigtails and pinafore behind - they might get some good old-fashioned heavy metal ideas!).

Check the band and their story out on their website:  www.ozofficial.com