By: Anders

Posted: Dec 16, 2005

This is an album I've had quite a hard time to chew me through, at first the music from the Norwegian band seemed very stale and had a hard time to get its impact at me. Though as time has went by, I have grown more fond of the release, without being that impressed by it though.

The band is delivering melodic power metal, very melodic and nice at times, almost too nice, due to it lacking some edge and momentum, almost a laid back atmosphere is present once in a while. At other times the momentum is present and the music is driven forward nicely. The musicians in the band seem pretty good, there are some good guitar parts on this album, when the bass is present, it's nice and suiting as well. The drumming is okay, though I’m not too fond of the laid back drum sound and the somehow sloppy sounding kick drums, it sounds somewhat misplaced in the universe of Highland Glory, I can't figure out if the drums are programmed or not, my guess judging on the sound of them, is that they are. The vocals are okay, but not that outstanding, but not annoying either, very fitting in this context, very melodic and soft, a bit more punch at times wouldn't have bothered me.

The compositions are epic and often huge, there is a great inspiration found in classic NWOBHM and that can be heard, that spiced up with the progressiveness of the band, is a quite good mix, it is best evident on the magnum opus track of the album 'Demon Of Damnation', where the vocals are excellent as well, very good and atmospheric track, showing the best of all the band's inspirational sources.

This album will be a hit among those really into the over-melodic power/heavy metal style. Though I miss some edge and a better drum-sound to make this album really stand out, there isn't "that" track which really makes this being note-worthy in the long run. And the 3 best tracks on the album are the 3 covers which end off the album, W.A.S.P's 'Wild Child'. KISS' 'Love Gun' and Maiden's 'The Trooper', all 3 displaying really good vocal skills. The talents are here, though a bit more skilled and punchy song writing will help a lot.

Rating: 6/10

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