TEMPLE OF SHADOWS

I had this album recommended to me by the guy at the record store. I purchased Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence by Dream Theater, and wanted to get another album. I originally brought up a Stratovarius album, but then he recommended this one. I put it in the CD player and was blown away. I hadn't previously heard this band at all, nor was exposed to metal much past Dream Theater.

This album should probably be broken up in halves, about half of it being more speed metal than progressive (although the third track, "Angels and Demons" opens up in 7/8 time, which makes me automatically like it because I"m a sucker for songs in 7), and the second half being progressive. It isn't strictly first half = speed, second half = prog, either. It has a great balance. The first 3 tracks are speed metal, but are amazing. "Spread Your Fire" is the second best track on the album. It isn't until the 4th song, "Waiting Silence", where the music begins to slow down enough to a progressive standard in my opinion. This song sounds almost like Dream Theater in it's sound.

Where this album begins to stand out is the seventh track, "The Shadow Hunter." This song starts off with almost a latin feel, and then bam, here comes the prog. It's amazing. The next track features an orchestral section written and arranged by one of the members of the band. The next track "Winds of Destination" blends both prog and speed.

The second to last track is great as well, because they sing in their native tongue of Portuguese, and it's a great closer. I wish the album ended on this note, as my only dislike of the album is the last track, "Gate XIII", an instrumental that sounds like it could have been done using just a keyboard.

A plus is the DVD included with an entire concert on it, featuring songs from previous albums, exposing a new listener such as myself to more of their music.

Highly recommended to fans of Dream Theater and Symphony X.