So as at this time as I have just started doing reviews I have had Windows Media Player pick album for me at random. I am down to 590 hours of music to review from albums previously released.
I was excited that this album was selected. I already had some songs highlighted as 5 stars. I was happy to listen to it again for this review. I was even more excited to find that despite having songs like Sin and Glory to the Empire that this was not a christian band. I mention that only because I really liked this album even though, as a person who has walked out on Neal Morse twice that I didn’t let my bias about the perceived subject matter of the album get in the way of liking this album.
This debut album of this Norwegian Heavy Metal band sets a very high standard that they are really going to struggle to match I have to say. Michael Eriksen on vocals is wonderful and reminds me of Tommy Karevik or maybe Joe Walsh on the song Fight Fire with Fire.
This is album is just the perfect blend of metal and melodic for me. Once in a while like in the song prophecy I hear a little Spock’s Beard. This band is making albums I wish Dream Theater would make. The Epic Title track is also one of the highlights on this album.
The band is a must for fans of of Seventh Wonder and Pain of Salvation and anyone that likes progressive metal should have this album in their collection.
This album was edged out of debut album of the year by Magic Pie’s Motion’s of Desire.
ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Glory to the Empire, The Prophecy, The First Chapter.
| PREVIOUS BAND RATING: |  (0.0 / 5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY: |  (4.0 / 5) |
| HEAVINESS: | (4.0 / 5) |
| MELODIC: |  (3.0 / 5) |
| ARTWORK & PACKAGING: |  (3.5 / 5) |
| DRAMA: |  (5.0 / 5) |
| OVERALL RATING: | (5.0 / 5) |
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Key:
These ratings are just attributes and may not have correlation to the most important: OVERALL RATING
PREVIOUS BAND RATING
0: Never heard of them or debut album.
1: Someone recommended. I give them another shot.
2: Some good moments in the past but never put together an album I really liked.
3: Some 4 or 5 star songs but albums can be hit or miss for me.
4: I like 80% of their songs and probably went to see them live.
5: I would, and probably have gone on a plane to see them live.
ACCESSIBILITY EXAMPLES
1: Weather Report
2: Zappa
3: Genesis – Selling England by the Pound,
4: Marillion – F.E.A.R
5: Kino – Picture
HEAVINESS EXAMPLES
1: IQ – Seventh House
2: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
5: Opeth – Black Water Park
MELODIC EXAMPLES:
1: Opeth – Black Water Park
2: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
5: IQ – Seventh House
OVERALL RATING:
1: Will Never listen to again and deleted under no circumstances should you buy this
2: Not my thing maybe one redeeming song.
3: I like parts of this and I would check them out if they were near me.
4: I would get in the car and road trip to see this album live
5: I would get on a plane to see this performed live
See if our likes are similar See my Last.fm Page
