Now this is something different. Algaion have gone from being one of the few decent Swedish melodic black metal bands out there, and have instead reverted into more of a power metal band. Rather than jumping on the new found neo-thrash (garbage) bandwagon, the group has instead jumped on their newly created (ermmhh) "metal" bandwagon. There's nothing wrong with this obviously, and although Algaion have yet to perfect this style, and it obviously won't hold well with the (thousands of) WEAKLINGS in the scene, I've found it to be a fairly decent album. Musically, the band, as stated before, now sound something like a combination between power metal, and some doomier metal. Iron Maiden tend to be a big influence here, since the music is highly melodic, but not in the way most people new to metal expect (such as Dissection). Rather, it's melodic in a "metal" way, very strong riffs, and some light distortion laden thrashier sections. Some riffs are simply grand, especially when the band is running at a slow, more doomy pace. Most of you whom have heard Algaion in the past will have noticed the vocals though. Sadly, rather than sticking with that style, or even altering it in a successful way, they now sound very drawn out. Sometimes sounding successfully painful I suppose...but for the most part they take away from the music, and give it a bland feel. A fine change I suppose, and as a metal album this is quite good. Hopefully with a bit more practice, the band will be able to rise the next album to even newer levels.

© 1997 brand