ANDROMEDA UNCHAINED

Denmark's ANIBUS GATE have come up with a winner on this one. I like how UMUR describes the music here as "...a sophisticated, clever and heavy Power Metal style with progressive elements". These songs pretty much are all connected as they either blend together or are united with short atmospheric sections making this seem like it's one long suite. I applaud them for that because it helps in the story they're telling.

"Freak Storm At Post Zeta...One Child Missing..." is mostly this eerie atmosphere with samples. Very cool. "Snowbound" turns powerful quickly when the atmosphere subsides. Heavy drums join in followed by vocals as the guitar grinds away. Check out the guitar and heaviness before 3 minutes. Great sound here. The chorus is so good. Love the atmosphere to end it as it blends into "Waking Hour". It kicks in quickly with vocals. A Power- Metal rhythm here. Lots of crunch with an onslaught of drums. Blistering guitar before 3 minutes. Atmosphere ends it as it blends into 'Andromeda Unchained". Kicks in quickly with heaviness and synths. Heavy drums and vocals follow. "Banished From Sector Q" is a cool sounding atmospheric piece with intricate guitar. "Beyond Redemption" sounds great with the heaviness and vocals.The tempo picks up then themes are repeated. A calm before 3 minutes. Nice. It builds with atmosphere. Great passage. "Resurrection Time" kicks in heavily then settles with vocals. Screaming guitar later. This song changes gears quite often. Outstanding section 4 1/2 minutes in to the end.

"Escape Pod" is filled with spacey synths. "The White Storm Through My Mind" opens with samples before it kicks in. Love the guitar. Vocals follow. More great guitar 3 1/2 minutes in followed by riffs. Vocals are back 6 minutes in. The guitar is lighting it up after 6 1/2 minutes as vocals stop. "The Final Overture" opens with intricate guitar melodies as drums kick in and the tempo picks up. Vocals before a minute. Heavy drums before 4 minutes followed by the guitar ripping it up. It ends with atmosphere and blends into "Take Me Home". Acoustic guitar and keys too. Reserved vocals join in. Nice guitar before 2 1/2 minutes as the tempo speeds up. It settles again. "Point Of No Concern" is atmospheric early but it kicks in quickly and heavily. Vocals follow. Nice bass before 3 minutes. It's heavy again as the tempo picks up with guitar and drums out front. More prominant bass 5 1/2 minutes in. "The End Of Millenium Road" sounds amazing when it kicks in. Vocals a minute in. Atmosphere as it calms down before 5 minutes. It kicks back in with vocals 6 1/2 minutes in. Great sound a minute later. "The Stars Of Canis Minor" ends the album with spacey atmosphere. Nice.

As usual with these Prog-Metal albums there's nothing new here, just some incredible music to enjoy. I ask for nothing more.