INFERNAL

4.5 stars. I really want to give this 5 stars and I may down the road. I would describe it as Prog- Metal with a Power-Metal flavour.This Finnish band is "lights out" when it comes to playing and I really like the vocals too. Oh and the synths are in the background the way I like them.

"End Of Days" has an amazing intro. I was sold on this band after the first 20 seconds. It's heavy and intricate. Vocals a minute in. Cool sound 2 1/2 minutes in of vocals, drums and bass only. Then it kicks back in with guitar. Nice guitar solo before 4 1/2 minutes as well. "On The Wings Of Rage" is intense and heavy. Killer vocals too. Drums dominate 2 minutes in followed by background synths.Those drums are back 3 1/2 minutes in followed by a guitar solo. "Infernal Mind" is a heavy assault as the vocals join in.The guitar plays over top before 2 1/2 minutes. "Fate Divided" opens with dark keys. It's building. The heaviness comes in like a runaway train. Vocals before 1 1/2 minutes. It does settles some after 3 minutes. Great sound after 5 1/2 minutes that makes me think of RIVERSIDE for some reason. The heaviness is back a minute later.

"New World Order" opens with some nice guitar. Heaviness and vocals follow. Drums really dominate here. Check out the guitar before 3 minutes. "Disease: Man" has such a good drum intro as vocals and grinding guitar follow.The vocals sound incredible. "Prelude: The Spirit Of Avalon" opens with piano melodies. The vocals before a minute are reserved. A moving intro. "Avalon" is the 10 1/2 minute closer. Here we go ! Such a good contrast with the previous mellow track. This is heavy and hard with vocals and background synths. Love when it settles some and the guitar comes to the fore. Contrasts continue. It settles with piano around 4 1/2 minutes. Tasteful guitar follows. It kicks back in after 6 1/2 minutes. Some huge bass too. It settles before we get some more guitar 8 1/2 minutes in.

What an album !! A must for Metal fans.