ARCHANGELS IN BLACK

I was square on top of the fence with this album for the longest time. I had heard from everyone who likes this album that it is a massive grower, and I took the cliche with a grain of salt. That saying does hold true with this album. The first couple of listens and you'll be like, "Really? Really Stephen? You actually released this?" But as you listen to it more, you begin to assimilate all of the fantastic musicianship present

The vocals were my main concern coming into this record. I for one despised Dominate solely due to the vocals. Gus utterly destroyed what would be a serviceable record with his vocals. Christian Palin does much, much better on this record than Gus did on Dominate. No, he isn't as good as David Readman, but that shouldn't discourage you from purchasing this record seeing as nobody is as good as Mr. Readman.

Compared to Adagio's first two opuses, this record is far more guitar driven. That's not to say that the first two lacked in the guitar department - that is nearly a blasphemous sentence - it's just that the keyboards in this album aren't as prevalent as in Sanctus Ignis or Underworld.

To expand on the guitars - they are utterly masterful, as expected. Stephan's guitar work is absolutely stunning. There is nothing lacking in the solo department, and unlike some parts of their other albums, the riffs are very, very good too. Much heavier and more ballsy than anything they have put out thus far.

The only questionable part in this entire record is the retarded intro to Fear Circus. It is so horribly irritating that it takes away from the greatness of the song that follows.

Many people complain about the innate egoistic qualities present in progressive metal, and I just have to ask why? That is one of the integral parts of the genre, and it isn't going anywhere. If you're going to complain about it, then you should turn your back on the genre.