TEMPLE OF SHADOWS

Well, this band is more on power metal than on prog, even though there are prog passages / styles I can find throughout this album. I know the band quite late, i.e. when they released "Rebirth" album. I was hooked to "Rebirth" album. I have also watched the video of the band's "Rebirth Live" - what a great and exciting concert! With this new album, the band demonstrates their abilities to compose great and cohesive album. No wonder, this band is one of top notch bands in metal arena. It's as excellent as other bands such as Gamma Ray, Blind Guardian, Nightwish, Helloween, Rhapsody, Kamelot, Adagio, Andromeda,etc.

I do enjoy this album as I enjoy "Rebirth". But, I think this album is better and has proven that the band is more mature in their music. It has better songwriting, tighter structure with many variation of styles and tempos; and it has great guitar riffs.

This album is highly recommended for those of you who enjoy with speed and heavy part of rock music. For those who have never heard any of the above mentioned bands, you might be struggling to adjust your ears with the speedy double pedal bass drum sound. That was my first experience with this kind of music. My suggestion is: please clear the double pedal drum sound from your mind. You might hear a beautiful and melodic music.

Some tracks in this album have some flavors of prog music such as "Waiting Silence", "Wishing Well" (reminds me to Kansas music especially in "Leftoverture" album), "The Temple of Hate" (great keyboard piece during interlude) and "The Shadow Hunter". "The Shadow Hunter" is really a great track with stunning acoustic guitar fills.

"Wings of Destination" is really the best track (to my personal taste). It starts of with violin-like sound followed by great riffs and flows nicely in cohesive way. The quieter part at approx min 2:25 is accentuated with piano and vocal ine. It's very melodic. Bravo Angra!! "Sprouts of Time" is track that surprised me as I never heard the band has ever performed this kind of music dominated with percussion and piano works. It moves to faster tempo with the kind of Angra music. "Late Redemption" is another great track with prog element. There is a passage that reminds me to Pain of Slavation music.

An excellent album. GW, Indonesia.