IN MURMURATION

For this 9th album from the 3 Von Hertzen siblings from Finland, and following their great previous album, Red Alert in the Blue Forest (2022), the boys have taken a much different approach, unleashing a full-on hard rock album, with much less of a prog emphasis and fewer folk influences. Which, for me, is a bit disappointing, and leads to a less impressive album than their previous one, as those more folky and proggy aspects were what I loved most. Nonetheless, there are some great tracks here, and they still have a great sound and style, just a more hard-rocking and classic rock direction on this album. And they certainly unleash the power and high-energy bangers throughout this dynamic rock album, yet they still retain their great melodic sensibilities and harmony vocals. Several high-quality, high-powered rockers here, but I still prefer the more subtle and evocative side of the band, such as in the closing track, Wait For Me. Overall, a fun rockin' album, with catchy songs and great musicianship. Best Tracks: Wait For Me, Tightrope Walker, Ascension Day, Beneath the Silver Stars. Rating: 3.5