POWER OF ETERNITY

Power of Eternity is the type of album that either grabs you straight away or will grow on you after about three listens. You will quickly develop favourites within the albums and favourite passages within the songs. It features Andy Powell's arguably best vocal work, his voice is crisp, clear and pleasant and melds into the music seamlessly whereas with some other Wishbone Ash works the vocals have sometimes been a bit grating. As always the twin lead guitars are back and better than ever, with Muddy Manninen doing the guitar work with Powell laying down brilliant well constructed melodies.

The first three tracks are lyrically heavy but include a lot of solos and lovely melodies. The Power and In Crisis are especially catchy and will be the first two songs that will keep brining you back to the album. Then when you reach the fourth song in the album, Argus fans will certainly like the harmonies on Dancing with the Shadows which are very reminiscent of songs like Time Was or The King Will Come while still being very fresh and new. Happiness continues in the say way with a guitar groove that will bring you back nearly 40 years.

The twin guitar harmonies have always been the highlight of Wishbone Ash albums and Muddy Manninen has done an excellent job to complement Andy Powell's playing on a very much more intimate level than on Clan Destiny and it's very easy to spot that the flow is a lot easier and the two styles work together a lot better. Nowhere is this more evident than the true masterpiece that is Northern Lights, it's a 3 minute instrumental that is arguably the most beautiful piece that Wishbone Ash have ever recorded. The haunting guitars bring you to a serene and sad landscape that truly displays what this new, brilliant incantation of the band are capable of.

The latter part of the album features more softer ballads but are interlocked with lush guitar melodies and catchy lyrics. The energetic and extremely capable bass and drum riffs from Bob Skeat and Joe Crabtree really stand out on a few tracks in the latter part of the album and you're left with the feeling that you're listening to a complete and experienced band, not a collection of artists acting as session musicians as has been the curse of some Wishbone Ash albums. The album ends on a strong note with Hope Springs Eternal, which has a lush rhythm guitar section bringing it in, and then escalating with arguably the best drum work on the album.

With the Power of Eternity, Wishbone Ash hits a harsh blow to any critics of the bands newest line up, it is the first album to feature Joseph Crabtree on drums but he already fits in so well with the rest of the band, most probably due to extensive touring he has done with the band since joining. The twin guitar melodies created by Powell and Manninen are some of the best I've ever heard from Wishbone Ash, and it's done even better live on both old and new songs. And as always, since joining the band Bob Skeat puts down an excellent rhythm throughout the whole album.

This is certainly one of the best albums Wishbone Ash have ever released, well worth a buy and the five stars I'm giving it, for me it has edged out Ulver for Album of the Year.