This is Leaves' Eyes third studio album in a career that has been praised by many as one of the best newer gothic metal acts out there. I have not heard much from the band's previous releases, but I enjoy many bands in this genre so I figured I would check them out. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed. The songs presented here grab your attention right from the start and don't let go. The vocals of Liv Kristine sound angelic next to both the folk elements and the electric guitars on this album. Every track has something to offer whether it is extremely heavy and catchy or a slower folk ballad.

The title track starts the album out very symphonic and epic with the beautiful voice of Liv Kristine. There are also some growled vocals introduced into the mix which help to give the song some character. This is a rather slow song to start the album off with, it's also pretty long. However, it has a nice melody running through it that makes it easy to listen to. The guitar work in this track is also melodic and easy to listen to. My Destiny begins with a few natural sounds, then the vocals of Kristine come in with some keyboard work. After this short intro the guitars blast in with some quick, energetic riffs that get the song off to a good start. The play between the clean and growled vocals here reminds me of the band Battlelore because they often do these dueling vocals. This song is also catchier and shorter than the first track, reminding me of Within Temptation somewhat as well. Emerald Island has the same epic feeling as the first track with the use of symphonic elements and the mid-paced riffs and drums that make the song feel like a journey. Take The Devil In Me seems to be one of the weaker tracks on the album, although it starts out strong with keyboards and guitars. It is catchy at times, like in the chorus, but it gets too repetitive after awhile in my opinion. The cover of English folk ballad Scarborough Fair is very well done, an easy song to just listen to and get lost in. The folk music elements are quite pronounced and sound great. At times I wish the vocals were louder in the mix though. They sometimes get lost with the instruments for me. Irish Rain starts out sounding very folky with some acoustic guitar and continues in this vein for most of the song, the vocals adding to the sort of folk atmosphere of the song. This song’s lyrics revolve around nature and love, it feels very Celtic. Morgenland continues the folk sound in a short, balladesque song that utilizes mainly keyboards and the vocals of Kristine. It really creates a great serene atmosphere. The Holy Bond begins with some interesting guitar work that leads into an interesting melody setup by the guitar and drums with the vocalist. Then the heavy riffs come in to inject some energy into the song. This song isn't as epic-sounding as many on the album, but the shear intensity makes up for it. The final track, Froya's Theme, is an eight minute long epic that begins with sounds that remind me of the ocean. The soft voice of Kristine lulls in the strange, desolate atmosphere created by the music. Soon the energy builds leading into a heavy passage with plenty of thick riffs and double bass drumming as Kristine's vocals soar above it all. The song continues building up the tension like this, and it really is a fantastic ride.

Leaves' Eyes have managed to catch me off-guard with this album. I have simply been astounded by the great songs this newer band is able to write, and I can definitely say I'll be checking out their older material. This album really flows nicely, all of the songs filling some type of void in emotion or atmosphere. This album is almost an hour long, but listening to it all the way through does not feel like that long. This is a truly enjoyable gothic metal release and I will look forward to their next album.