Metal Reviews

I always knew these swedes are ridiculously talented, but now it seems they summoned every drop of talent available in their veins and crafted a genuine metal masterpiece. Beautiful and emotional vocal melodies, delightful and very audible bass work throughout the album and great riffing and soloing, blended in 12 songs (+ 1 bonustrack) more catchy than anything before, but still retaining that trademark dark atmosphere. The fact that the album seems more fast paced than any of the previous (and perhaps slightly Nevermoresque) is also a plus in my eyes. I just can't have enough of it. Power metal desperately needs more bands like Morgana Lefay.

I have yet to pick up a Morgana Lefay album.But I do like the heaviness of the band almost in a sense of Nevermore.

http://www.myspace.com/morganalefay

No material from the new album, too bad.

I can't believe noone's talking about this yet. The more I listen to it, the more I think this is probably the best metal album of 2007. Get this album you bastards!

Shame on me, I forgot about this. I will be seeking it out. Grand Materia is so awesome it makes my head spin, metaphorically.

Grand Materia was so-so with only a couple of songs sticking out and their god-awful singer ruining the rest. I just couldn't get into his singing at all. A friend recently send me Make A Wish from the new album and i instantly liked it so maybe i'll check this one. Is the rest of the album that good ?

Blasphemer!

He sounds like a pissed off Jon Oliva, how can that be bad?

It pretty much is... and some songs (my favourites are Delusions, Vultures Devouring, Over and Over Again, Depression, Caught In The Tread Wheel) are even better, imo. This album doesn't have weak songs as far as I'm concerned, with the possible exception of Nightmares Are Made In Hell, but that's a bonus track so it doesn't really count. And even that isn't bad, just not as good as the rest.

Still, if you don't like his vocals maybe you'll not be very enthusiatic about it. I admitt they're more of an aquired taste, but I think they're great and pretty unique, a trademark of the band. I actually think Rytkonen is in top 3 swedish heavy/power vocalists, rigth upthere with Jens Carlsson and Nils Patrick Johansson.

He's more like a younger version of Udo Dirkschneider to me but i agree with OldSchool, his vocals are an acquired taste and rather unique. He sings most verses on Grand Materia with this raspy voice while on the choruses he switches to a more melodic voice which i def. like more.

Anyway i've heard The Rush Of Possession from their website and the song sounded killer so i'm gonna check this out. Thanks for the convincing Old School.

Btw, I'd personally put Mats Leven in place of Rytkonen in your top 3 swedish h/p vocalists.