THE VIEW FROM BELOW

30 years after their sophomore album, Heir Apparent return to discography with three original members and the addition of a talented vocalist in Will Shaw. Shaw had joined the band a few years earlier for live shows and had proven a perfect fit, delivering the demanding vocal lines from the first two albums really well owing partly to his wide range. Despite the promising recipe, The View from Below fails to impress in most parts. It is mostly a heavy atmospheric mid-tempo album with a polished sound and predictable song-writing.

With the exception of Savior, a fast paced tune resembling techniques found in One Small Voice, we are presented with a collection of professionally-assembled songs that don't leave a lasting mark or build a cohesive story. The production is solid with deep bass lines - I would compare the overall sound and taste to Psychotic Waltz's The God- Shaped Void, but with markedly less spark. Indeed, the second highlight of the album, the closing "Insomnia", could well sit in this latter album.

Fans and modern heavy metal fans might find some interest, the rest should check out the band's debut for a truly original sound.

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