FROM A POINT OF EXISTENCE

As a huge Lord of the Rings fan, I was hoping to find a gem in the band Gandalf's Fist. However, after hearing their latest, I come away unimpressed. To be sure, it has everything I want: great guitar lines, interesting lyrics, etc. etc. However, there is something that isn't quite right.

The first problem is the vocalist. The vox aren't bad at all, but the overall mix of the album leaves much to be desired. The powerful guitars drown out everything, especially the lightweight vocals. I feel that this is less a result of a lack of skill and more of a result of having a vocalist that isn't quite ready to be standing up with the big boys. His voice is okay, but needs work.

I also found the compositions to be rather dull. They aren't very imaginative, and are usually rather straightforward. Even the multi-part From a Point of Existence is pretty dull and never gives me anything to anticipate. Then, of course, there is the track "Monolith" that is completely different with an interesting groove that keeps your attention. This is probably the strongest track here. This album isn't bad or revolting, but it sure is safe and rather unremarkable. There are a couple glimmers of good ideas here, and it's worth a listen. Just, don't get your expectations too high.