ARTEMISIA

Talk about wholesale changes ! The only original member left is lead guitarist Marcel Coenen. Barend Tromp guests on three tracks with his fretless bass. Both he and Marcel used to play in LEMURS VOICE. The most noteable change is new vocalist Paul Adrian Villarreal who is an American. He really reminds me of Ted Leonard from ENCHANT. That makes this an interesting listen because what we get are these fairly laid back vocals with music that is often extremely heavy. I must say that this was a very enjoyable listen for me this past week.

"Lyre's Harmony" opens with the sound of a bird screaming then flying away. Then we get pummeled with riffs. A calm when the reserved vocals arrive.The guitar comes grinding in as drums pound. It gets pretty heavy before 2 minutes. An avalanche of riffs come raining down 5 minutes in followed by a ripping guitar solo. "A Fair Trade" opens with a great heavy sound. Vocals and riffs follow. Very melodic and the vocals are so accessible. Piano comes in. The guitar sounds so clean and clear. "Unborn" opens with a crushing soundscape until vocals arrive before a minute. Fast and heavy after 3 minutes. A Tipton-like guitar solo after 4 minutes. Brutally heavy like ZERO HOUR as a vocal melody comes in. Awesome ! "Bloodlines" opens with piano which is quickly steam rolled by heavy riffs. Great sound ! Vocals 2 minutes in with a lighter sound. It sounds like a stampede before 4 minutes. Some really good contrasts in this one. Bone crushingly heavy 6 1/2 minutes in followed by organ 7 minutes in. Vocals are back. "Painted Eyes" features more heaviness, riffs and great vocals. This is the shortest track.

"Engelbert The Inchworm" opens with a silly melody that is quickly stomped to death by these stuttered riffs. They continue until it calms down after a minute. It gets very powerful again. Check out the guitar. This instrumental has to be heard to be believed ! Some guest growls to end it. "Afraid To Fly" is really the first mellow song although it does get a little more passionate a minute in when the vocals arrive. An uplifting guitar solo after 3 1/2 minutes. "Dialogue" sounds beautiful to open until bass then heaviness comes crashing in. A nice heavy undercurrent to this one. "Departing Words" opens with more metal flying around. Organ and pounding drums arrive as the vocals continue to impress. "Doldrums" opens with the sound of a boat in the water. Synths wash in. Piano and vocals 1 1/2 minutes in. It gets more powerful after 3 minutes. Even heavier before 5 minutes. Scorching guitar 6 minutes in before a calm a minute later as we hear the water like in the beginning.

I really think ENCHANT fans will like this one even though at times it's like 10 times heavier than that band. The fact is that the lighter sections are very ENCHANT-like. I still prefer their previous release to this one, but this album is highly recommended to those into melodic Metal.