Swedish band on a Finnish label, with German distribution. Isn't globalism something nice? But what am I talking about here, all that counts is the music and that is formidable! True Metal it is! Quite fast, almost the Melodic Speed-alley, but they fortunately elude the typical happy nursery rhymes.

This is also thanks to the vocals of fronter Hussni Mörsare, who doesn't sound like Kiske reincarnated, but has a very rough voice. Similar to the shouter of EVERGREY! With that he's got a big plus in my book already, because I just prefer the rougher variant to the "clean" one. But still I'd recommend this album to fans of EDGUY/SONATA ARCTICA/RHAPSODY as well. The choruses are very hymnic and sound pretty heroic, plus they have a typical guitar-wizard on the six-string, who, I am sure, has a few Malmsteen-albums in his shelf. But as his efforts never drift off into narcissistic and endless solos, it's OK. That kind of style seems to be a social disease in Sweden... Well, if they feel good with it...

Overall you have to attest the band a very good debut-album, because the songs have more class than much of what is under contract elsewhere. They also do not make the mistake of using highspeed throughout, but also use some mid-tempo tunes as well, sounds fresh somehow! "We Are Winterlong reaching for the top of the hills..." could be some kind of battle-hymn, can't get this melody out of my head! If you take into account that this band seems to be pretty young, then they might be in for a glorious future!