By: Anders

Posted: Sep 19, 2005

A new force of melodic and symphonic power metal has entered the scene. Timeless Machine hails from Sweden and this is their debut album. Offering huge and atmospheric spheres of speedy metal compositions blended with symphonic elements, folk-like melodies and synth-effects and great playing.

The first element that grips the listener is the light and very catchy melodic leads, which goes back and forth all the time, together with the big keyboard-spheres and melodies. Especially the keyboards are all over the place, either it being the lead instrument, the melody maker, or the spacey effects in the background. It does mainly sound really good, and it would be hard to imagine the band without the keys, and luckily is it only seldom it gets too cheesy. The guitars deliver good melodies as mentioned earlier, there is a good riff here and there and a decent solo once in a while as well, but often does the guitar work drown in the keyboards.

The vocals are nice and enchanting and do more or less bind the songs together, they are high and quite catchy, powerful yet fragile, pretty good work, though it wouldn't have hurt if they had been a bit more varied. The lead vocal are greatly backed up by choirs, and as you all should know by now, I'm a sucker for heavy and power metal choirs, and its no difference here, it makes the vocal element more or alive and bring an atmospheric aspect into the game. Though I have to say that the lead vocal in 'Return Of The Werewolf' is impressive, the variation and the identification of the roles on that track (the band uses the story of Little Red Ridinghood as the base) works really well.

If you're into bombastic symphonic power metal, this album will be a serious contender to the album of the year for you. It is for sure a good album, though the band is using well known elements and themes within the genres, there aren't any surprises or really outstanding performances on the album. Well played music for sure, all the members of the band know how to handle their instrument and the addition of the folk elements and the traditional folk melodies are really nice, and that is one of the things that pull the album up above standard. Check out the album and be carried back to middle earth between proud knights, witches and the mystery of nature! 

Rating: 7½/10

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