Yes, I think it is official now, Switzerland is stocking up on traditional melodic Metal and the talent they throw into the fray is very promising indeed! One of the latest entrants is called LORDREN and is offering us their second EP "In The Cellar". Being formed in 1998 already, only two EPs out hints at them rather trying to hone their skills than to try to break through far too early and instead of finding commercial success just stumbling over their own feet, landing face down in the mud.

The Rickenbach-based quintet has chosen symphonic Power Metal as their genre and knowing how densely overcrowded it already is, it raises doubts that the young Swiss would be able to stand out from the crowd and even though they do not exactly stand out, they surely manage to hold their own. Many aspiring symphonic bands either try to blind you with speed or drench you in bombastic keyboards, LORDREN are maybe a little bit guilty in the keyboard department, but overall manage to avoid these traps and instead surprise with pretty mature song writing, where probably the years of experience might come into play.

The EP contains six songs, two of which are intros, which leaves us with four real tracks overall and here the band shows its skills when it comes to variety and good structuring for they stay away from the stereotypical Power Metal formulas of either full speed or dripping pathos, instead they cover a wide spectrum of tempos and put these passages together with ease and without making their songs inaccessible or progressive, but retain a very good flow to them, even adding a soaring keyboard solo that does not sound out of place.

There surely still is room for improvement and it also remains to be seen, if the Swiss are able to keep the same level over a full album, but "In The Cellar" is a good foundation to build on and I personally think that we'll be able to hear a lot more from them soon!

(Online February 7, 2007)