FROM A POINT OF EXISTENCE

I did not like the previous "Gandalf's Fist" album much at all. Immediately I find this album to be more upbeat than the previous one (thank goodness). I really enjoy the sound of "From a Point of Existence I - V" Some "Iron Maidenish" sounding lead guitar work to spice things up (it's obvious that "Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner" impressed these guys at some point and that is not a bad thing). With "The Gathering of the Clouds" again I'm impressed. The canned vocals from the previous album are the most part gone thus far and that is a good thing as well. Well - up to "There and Back Again" and I'm still impressed. After the previous release I very nearly didn't bother with this one and boy am I happy that I relented. "Crestfallen" well well - still impressed. The next two tracks are no different meaning that I remain in eargasm. This a damn good album and one that I'm going to savor again time and again. What a difference to the lacluster previous release from this band. They have beefed the sound up to a level where it is almost prog metal a lot of the time and from where they were with the previous album which was drowsy music to here is fantastic. A solid 4 stars from my perspective.