(Rated this album with 6 out of 10) Reviewed by
A music fan
These guys are a real enigma for me. They play some really haunting, inspiring music, both soft and hard, and they do it with obvious skill, but then they mix in what I can only describe as crap to go with it. If you are a die-hard metal fan you don't need this review to tell you that you'll like these guys, but if you're not, I can tell you there are some real gems on this album for non-metal fans as well. 'Master of the Wind' and large portions of 'The Agony and Ecstasy of Achilles' are some of the most inspiring music I have ever heard. The other tracks range from good to crap. Although I love some of the images of heroism and honour that these guys' music inspires, you have to hope that they don't take themselves as seriously as they appear to. You get the feeling they might be tugging themselves just a little too hard, but the music can be inspirational. For those who share this opinion, tracks you might like on another album include 'Kingdom Come', 'Heart of Steel' and 'The Crown and the Ring' from the 'Kings of Metal' album.
