Karelia - Usual Tragedy (2003)

I'm not sure if the debut of French band Karelia was released in 2003 or 2004 (going through things chronologically, I'm fussy about such stuff), as I've found various information that suggests one year or the other, but as I started listening to this and liking it, I decided not to wait too long. :-)
Karelia offer a very symphonic style of power/symphonic metal, with haunting keyboards throughout, choirs and, rather unusually, two different male leads, one of whom (I can't work out which is which) is a deep baritone, sounding rather like Brad Roberts from Crash Test Dummies, though with terrible diction - you really need to follow the lyrics in the booklet closely to try and understand what either of them are singing.
However, it all works quite well, such songs as "Letter For An Angel", "Deserter" and "Daddy's Grave" drawing the listener in with their very ethereal sound and rather low key dramatics.  It's certainly rough around the edges, and somewhat raw in its way but, for me at least, it is, at times, an enthralling listen, and continues what has been, so far, a very good start to 2003 - whether this was released then or not.

***1/2