Debut offering from Spanish outfit KILMARA sees them deliver a perfectly, if unspectacular, brand of acceptable Melodic Hard Rock with a healthy tinge of Metal. I am not going to get carried away and suggest that they are the next big Rock/ Metal band from Europe but there’s a strong sense of Melody and commitment from a band keen to impress.

With a contemporary sound influenced by luminaries such as MAIDEN, SAVATAGE and MOB RULES, KILMARA drive along expressing some steel in the rampant ‘’River Has Run Dry’’, the effervescent opener ‘’October Leaves’’, the catchy hooks of ‘’Reclaiming The Past’’ and the highly charge riffing of ‘’Don’t Step Back’’ or the PRIEST influenced ‘’Train Station’’.

I get the feeling that vocalist Wolf, although solid and uncompromising, is a touch too flat and understated for the up-tempo Melody driven sound. He’s certainly not in the league of Jeff Scott Soto or Tony Harnell and Melodic Rock bands do need a veritable front man. That however is a minor point as he does perform well throughout. Ironically it’s on the obligatory ballad ‘’Another Chance’’ that he gives his best performance.

All in all a good first album start which should hopefully garner enough interest to get the band a record deal.

(Online September 21, 2007)