DEGGIAL

This time the band had the budget to further expand the concept of symphonic metal with the use of more various instruments (brass/wind instruments, orchestra drums and broader string section). The "metal" parts sound more like 80s NWOBHM - a bit heavier and more recognizable. A great release.

The opener "Seven Secrets Of The Sphinx" is heavy and metal oriented. "Eternal Return" starts very darkly - almost a King Diamond like intro - then the music changes with a classic heavy metal riff (in the vein of Iron Maiden's "Mother russia"). "Enter Vril - Ya" is classic symphonic Therion (maybe the best example of the sound on this album - just listen to it from the streaming section here). "Ship Of Luna" is a great song, almost a ballad, with a heavier ending - reminds me of soundtracks ("Live and Let die" for example). "Deggial" starts slowly too with a very orchestral part but toward the end of the song it speeds up and ends in a musical frenzy. "The Invincible" and "Emerald Crown" are again very symphonic, with even bluesy parts. "The Flight Of The Lord Of Flies" is a short instrumental - very experimental (and even weird). "Flesh Of The Gods" is the heavy metal song - Hansi Kursch from Blind Guardian takes on vocals to give a power metal feel to the song. "Via Nocturna" is very epic - starts with the strings/brass ensemble, and after a short metal part it becomes a real killer classical composition (great choir here). "O Fortuna" hmm... fans of Carmina Burana will *hate* this cover of Carl Orff's opera - sounds funny, but it's not bad at all.

Rating: 97/100