Thunderstone - Thunderstone (2002)

This debut by Finnish band Thunderstone starts with a fine, typical power metal piece in "Let The Demons Free", but what follows is a variety of quick, steady and slow songs that broaden the horizon of the genre.  The result is a listen that's quite good, without being anything spectacular, containing a strong and appealling keyboard sound, and personal and reflective lyrics.
It does sometimes veer a bit too much towards something approaching alternative at times (I think so, anyway), but it's a reasonable enough release all the same.

***