Crystal Eyes - Confessions Of The Maker (2005)

Crystal Eyes' fouth album is also their first not to have guitarist/writer Mikael Dahl on vocals. He's still here, but Lost Horizon singer Daniel Heiman has come in to take on voice duties.  He benefits from not being drowned in the mix as much as Dahl was in the band's early releases, and Confessions Of The Maker, which is also less speedy than usual, is an improvement over their previous, rather disappointing VENGEANCE DESCENDING, even if it doesn't reach great heights either. 
Crystal Eyes' rather abrasive guitar sound has always been a notable aspect of their work, and so it is here, and such songs as "The Charioteer" and "The Burning Vision" are highlights, but there are also weak moments, like "The Terror" and "Terminal Voyage."
The album finishes with the ballad "Silent Angel", heralding a rather dignified resonance that's new for the band, and maybe it will lead them on to better things, but here, Crystal Eyes continue to show that they can do some good stuff, but continue to have drawbacks.

***