Artension - New Discovery (2003)

Helloo.
I am about to take a break from this blog for quite a while.
On 19 May, I'm going to the UK for five weeks, to revisit my city of birth (London) as well as take a tour around Britain. I haven't been there since 1997, and thought it was about time I went back. :-) Well, it's a bit more than just that.
Anyway, this isn't happening for another nine weeks and, since I'm now finishing 2003 in power metal, I could do 2004 probably quite easily before then. The problem is I haven't given any listens to the majority of the albums yet.
Before I sit down to "properly" listen to one, I have to give it at least a few runs through, listening to it while at my computer, lying in bed, walking, etc, until I think it's had enough goes for me to give it a fair hearing - or until I just can't bear to hear it anymore.  And while there are a portion of 2004 albums I have already done that with, there are heaps I have not. Yes, it's me being greedy, trying to find and buy as many albums of the genre as I possibly can. Really, I suppose I have gone overboard, but ah well.
So I will be spending the coming weeks listening to a loooottt of stuff from 2004, and I don't think I'll have time to listen to them again and put them on here before I go away.
All the same, I will come here every now and again, maybe put up a list of favourites or something. I'm not sure.
I don't know if anyone has been following this blog. I have noticed that when I post something, it shows statistics that suggest, if I understand them correctly, that people have read them, and maybe someone is out there who has been keeping tabs on it regularly. I know my writing isn't always that good, and I know sometimes I don't say a lot about a certain album. That's because, sometimes, I just don't have much to say. :-|
But if anyone has been reading my stuff, I want to thank you for taking the time. :-) I started this fairly late 2011, and it's still going. That shows that I continue to love power metal, and continue to enjoy writing about it.
So I'll keep updates on what I'm doing over the next few months, before getting going "properly" one more.
There was something I was going to say... what was it?
Oh yes.  This is another Artension album.
Ho hum.

**

Six Magics - The Secret Of An Island (2003)

Six Magics' second album polishes the erractic nature of their debut, DEAD KINGS OF THE UNHOLY VALLEY, to produce a quite stunning release this time around. Again, a choir gells with the band throughout as a strange, rather grim tale is told, something about an island involving strange creatures, a woman who has her baby staken from her, and a ghost ship on the seas of Chile.
I've probably got it all wrong, but, even though its length of around seventy minutes is a bit excessive, most of it comes together remarkably well, with some beautiful passages that enlighten such songs as "Chiloé, the Creation", "Goddess Of The Seas", "Trauco (Seed Of Pain)" (which ends with a woman's cry of anguish, which might be the most heartbreaking sound I've ever come across on a recording), "The Basilisk" and the epic, closing title track.
As stated, it is pretty bleak stuff (e.g. "Brutal Sacrilege" has the mother stating that "my innocent boy is part of my entrails".  Ick. I hope my mother never spoke about me that way), and it could be argued that it's still a bit rough around the edges, but there's so much to like here that this would have to be one of the best in the operatic/symphonic metal genre.
Six Magics did not bring out another album until 2008, so it will be a while before I can find out whether they have come close to matching this one.

****1/2

Firewind - Burning Earth (2003)

Ah, it's nice to sit down and listen to an album where I can actually see the song titles and follow the lyrics without straining my eyes and/or trying to find enough light to find out what on earth they're supposed to be saying.
I thought I'd say that, since Burning Earth was pleasing in that way. :-)
This release from Firewind is another good effort, although maybe a touch lesser than their debut, BEWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL, with some more powerful riffs and singing, highlights including "Burning Earth", "Waiting Still" and the war-lamenting conclusion "The Longest Day". 
It's easy for such a band to get lost in the shuffle, with so many other similar acts of this type around, but as long as they offer some quality, then it's worth seeking them out, and that's certainly the case with Firewind.

***

Axenstar - Far From Heaven (2003)

Axenstar's second album is in a similar style to their first, with again melodious power metal being helped by Magnus Eriksson's vocals being overdubbed to create very appealling harmonies that make sure the band really has its own distinctive sound. What's more, his voice comes through a bit better on the mix this time.
This doesn't mean the record is a particular improvement over PERPETUAL TWILIGHT, and the lyrics are quite bleak, with more than one song about death ("Abandoned", "Death Denied"), but it remains fast and catchy, best songs including "Blind Leading The Blind", "Far From Heaven" and "Abandoned."  After two releases, I definitely have a soft spot for this Swedish band.

***1/2

Requiem - Mask Of Damnation (2003)

Requiem's second album is certainly an improvement over their debut THE ARRIVAL, although it's still nothing all that special. Fast from start to finish, the production is certainly better, with Jouni Nikula's melodramatically operatic vocals not so drowned out so much now, while the songs are interesting, even if none really stand out.  Also, at about 42 minutes, it's not too long; 70+ would have dragged it all down badly.

***

Dark Moor - Dark Moor (2003)

White Skull had a female singer, she left and they replaced her with a man. Dark Moor then followed suit, only they replaced three members, including vocalist Elisa Martin, who made way for Alfred Romero, who does sound a bit like her, but is certainly better.
Referring to novels like "The Count Of Monte Cristo" ("A Life For Revenge"), as well as having a few songs based on Attila the Hun, this is a sometimes exceptional album which, at its best, flies, highlights including "Eternally", the somewhat progressive "Cyrano Of Bergerac" and the concluding "The Dark Moor", but there are weak moments too, like the ordinary "The Bane Of Daninsky (The Werewolf)". There are some pleasing orchestral moments and, of course, bits of choirs that can only be a plus. But I can't quite rate this as highly as their previous work, and last with Martin, Albert Maroto and Jorge Saez, THE GATES OF OBLIVION. There's a lack of gracefully beautiful melodies that the band was adept at producing up to this stage, like "The Strange Paths Of Destiny" (I love that song), which means this is very good, but not super, duper good.

***1/2

Arachnes - Primary Fear (2003)

I don't think I'm ever going to really warm to Arachnes, especially as, at the time of writing, they've only brought out two albums since this one.
With more spider-influenced artwork (although not in the songs, from what I can tell), it starts off pretty well, thanks to the choir in "Battle To The Victory" and "Primary Fear" (I just can't resist a choir), but only does "To Escape Death" really interest me after that.  I find the instrumental pieces quite dull, although vocalist Enzo Caruso's church organ playing "Tota Pulchra" is pretty good.
Choirs... church organs... why do I like metal again?

**1/2

Cryonic Temple - Blood, Guts & Glory (2003)

I like these boys!
Cryonic Temple's first album CHAPTER 1 won me over with its undemanding but enjoyable power metal, and this follow-ups pretty much does the same. Of course, it's all nothing new, and has all the cheesiness of fighting with swords, swords everywhere, the vocalist is called Glen Metal (who, it must be said, is excellent), and the drummer is Gert Steelheart.  But with its galloping, Iron Maiden-style rhythms and catchy choruses, Blood, Guts & Glory is a winner, highlights including "The Triumph Of Steel" and "The Midas Touch (Samurai) - The Quest Pt III".

***1/2

Tad Morose - Modus Vivendi (2003)

Tad Morose's, to date, final album has them in more of a  power metal style than what has gone before, and the result is a good listen, particularly on the first half, with such songs as "No Mercy" and "Afraid To Die" standing out. Good vocal arrangements are another plus. 
These Swedes will never be amongst my favourite bands in any metal genre, but they had their moments, Modus Vivendi is as good as anything they've done.

***

Stratovarius - Elements Pt 2 (2003)

I found Stratovarius' ELEMENTS PT 1 to be overly contrasting to my own beliefs in regards to the lyrics, but excellent musically, so I was expecting more of the same from part two.
The lyrics actually start pretty much Biblically, with the opening "Alpha & Omega" almost quoting parts of Revelation, while "Know The Difference" has a part of The Serenity Prayer ("grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference"), in slightly amended form, as its chorus. While Tolkki still sees everything 'as one', it's a somewhat gentler message this time.
However, the music is quite disappointing.  This is slower and steadier than what is normal for the band, and that is not necessarily wrong in itself, but it just plods along too much, particularly on the first half.  Things do get a bit better as it goes, "Luminous" being quite enchanting, and the concluding ballad "Liberty" isn't too bad, while I still love the way Jorg Michael bashes the life out of  those skins.  But, considering the innovation that Part One presented in its music, this follow-up has to be considered as quite a let down.

**1/2

Arthemis - Golden Dawn (2003)

Mmm... This might grown on me in time, but I can't say Golden Dawn is all that special. It's fast, and quite short, with such songs as "The Traveller" and "Master Of The Souls" offering a bit, but I'm afraid I can't get excited about much, and that goes for Arthemis overall, so far.

**

Majesty - Reign In Glory (2003)

Majesty's third album is longer (around an hour) than their last one, which was longer than the one before, as they go for more expansive, lengthy songs.
Unfortunately, this doesn't make for particlarly better music.
The first three tracks, "Heavy Metal Battlecry", "Into The Stadiums" and "Reign In Glory", proclaim heavy metal.  All of them. Even by the standards of such bands who love to wave the metal flag, this is overkill. Of course, the amusement factor is pretty high - the title song stating, "To all you fuckers making fun of this band, Don't you ever mess with our fans/Hey poser, we know what you do, so beware, we are huntin' for you".  Lyrics like that are going to encourage those fuckers to make fun of them less?
After these three, we get into all the battles of good versus evil - like on the album before, there's a song ("Lord Of The Damned") which is based on the 'forthcoming' (at the time) novel by vocalist Tarek Maghary, which is full of doom and proclaiming 666.  Don't metal bands ever get tired of that number?
It's all very passionate, all very genuine, and "Heavy Metal Battlecry" is a rip roaring piece. But, overall, the material here just isn't very inspiring. It gets point for effort, but not for execution.

***

Falconer - The Sceptre Of Deception (2003)

Falconer's third album was also their first after the temporary departure of vocalist Mathias Blad, and his replacement Kristoffer Göbel, while a bit gruffer, is still really good, and the band is now extended to an official five-piece.
What's really annoying about this record is something that's the case with way too many releases - the damn booklet information is so hard to read! Why do so many of these artists insist on small printing, together with dreadful colour co-ordination?  The song titles on the back are virtually impossible to make out. I've managed to work out some of the lyrics, but there's a lot of other printing, presumably about this story of sceptres and kings and things, that I haven't even attempted to decypher.
However, as with their first two releases, there's plenty of good music here, again heavily folk-influenced (with a notable lack of guitar solos), giving them a strong, medieval flavour, and such songs as "The Coronation", "Under The Sword", "Pledge Of Freedom" and "The Sceptre Of Deception" are very worthwhile.
Bad booklet presentation aside, this is another impressive release from a band who, so far, is winning me over.

***1/2

Adagio - Underworld (2003)

Adagio's second album has me wondering whether they really should be on this blog, since they're really much more progressive metal and power. Then again, there is some of the latter here, but what is really notable are all the orchestral arrangements. From piano to strings to choirs, Underworld has it all.  It's just a shame, then, that the songs themselves couldn't have been a bit better.  I know these kind of records can take a lot of work to get into (I said that about Adagio's debut, SANCTUS IGNIS), but I can only give individual albums so many spins, as I am greedy and have so much to listen to.
Anyway, this is a certainly impressive release, again obviously influenced by the likes of Symphony X, but it's a long way from holding me in raptures.

***

Dreamtale - Ocean's Heart (2003)

Dreamtale's second album is pretty much on par with their first, BEYOND REALITY, being very much in the typical power metal vein (both musically and lyrically), which is, of course, a plus for fans of the genre in itself, but the material is reasonable more than anything spectacular and, also like the debut, it goes on too long.

***

Human Fortress - Defenders Of The Crown (2003)

Human Fortress' second album is a remarkable leap in quality from their debut LORD OF EARTH AND HEAVEN'S HEIR, with a fine array of catchy, powerful songs, varying in tempo and also with touches of folk, as they sing of The Crusades, Roman gladiators and other such topics.  Topping it off are the great vocals of Jioti Parcharidis, helping make such songs as "Defenders Of The Crown", "Holy Grail Mine", "Schattentor" and "Mortal Sinful Wrath" fly. 
This is simply one of the best power metal albums of 2003, and it was such a shame they didn't release another one until 2008, because these Germans clearly know how to do it right.

****1/2

Balance Of Power - Heathen Machine (2003)

Balance Of Power's fifth and final studio album, and their only one with vocalist John K, takes them in a new, more complex direction, and it is arguably their best release of all.
After the brief introduction, only one of the eight remaining songs is under six minutes, but never do any of them outstay their welcome, and the band has not lost their gift for melody, as such songs as "I Wish You Were Here", "The Eyes Of All The World" and "Wake Up Call" show.
Heavy, driving but undeniably catchy, Heathen Machine is a most enjoyable listen, tinged with a bit of sadness, as one can't help but think this British band still had a lot more to offer if they could have lasted longer.

***1/2

Rage - Soundchaser (2003)

Rage just won't stop, and that's great, since they have brought out such a consistent body of work. While their albums mightn't ever reach true classic status, they don't release any duds either, and Soundchaser is another worthwhile effort, with guitarist/keyboardist Victor Smolski sharing the songwriting duties with Peavy Wagner, and such songs as "War Of Worlds", "Soundchaser" and "Human Metal" portray Rage at their best. The two-part conclusion "Falling From Grace" is a bit weak and, overall, considering the highs, it's a bit disappointing the album is a whole isn't better, but there's still much to like here, and there's something about Rage that just holds my respect throughout their long career.

***1/2