By: Anders

Posted: Feb 2, 2006

Pretty traditional power metal, yet thundering, forceful and melodic, is what this Italian band delivers on its second album "Another Life". I can't remember if I have heard their first offering "Last Sunrise" or not, if I have it didn't hang on. The band has lost 2 members and gotten 3 new, since the release of the debut full length and that might have had an effect on the music.

There are some good and catchy guitar work on the album, some good and breathtaking leads and some good melodies. The drumming is straight ahead, a lot of double kick work and some good breaks and more laid back play once in a while. The bass tries to keep the rhythm in an iron grip and isn't always as audible as one could wish. The compositions are as expected, pretty classic within this genre and doesn't push many boundaries. There are a bit of fusion present once in a while and a bit of progressive parts here and there, though the band are doing many of the good old deeds, and it's seldom anyone does wrong doing that.

The real highlight on this disc is the vocals from Francesco Neretti, he has an amazing and grand voice. His normal vocals are great and he sings well, and when he go high, which is even better, he keeps the voice clean and keep the tones very good, at times one would think it was a girl singing, that is how clean and on tone he keeps it, damn good and enchanting vocal work, and that is a big part of this album being interesting.

This is not a groundbreaking power metal album of any kind, though it is a good representative of the genre. A powerful album with some good and listenable music, some catchy moments and some enchanting melodies, together with some really good vocals. Without the amazing vocals, the album might have been rather boring, as there are a bit between the musical highlights as such. The musicians know how to use their instruments, no doubt about that, many things do just strike on as heard before. Though if you're into power metal you need to check this album out, it might catch you right on, I have enjoyed listening to it, that's for sure. And on top of it all, we are treated with an okay version of Deep Purple's 'Highway Star', that's always useable.

Rating: 6½/10

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