First off let me point out that I am not familiar at all with Dan Swanos other projects like the technical death metal of Edge of Sanity or Bloodbath. Nightingale is a melodic hard rock band with some progressive tendencies thrown in. I would have to say out of all the Nightingale cds (I dont have I) Alive Again is by far the best.

The songs contained here are excellent examples of how to write hook filled melodic songs that are not easily forgettable. After a mellow intro track Shadowman comes forth and right away you know that Dan and his crew dont mess around. This song is a perfect opener with a driving midtempo rhythm and a wonderful chorus. Dans vocals are alot better than I was expecting, he sings in a low soothing type of voice that is easy on the ears and reminds me a bit of Terry Brock. My personal favortie is next Glory Days a reflective song that if you didnt read the lyrics you would think it is a solid AOR rocker with an upbeat feel but the lyrics are completely opposite of the music. The song is about a dying man lying in his bed reminiscing about his life and remembering when he was young and alive. This is also part of a huge concept that Dan has been creating since the first Nightingale cd about a man whos body has been taken over a shadow and he is slowly dying as he is losing control of his life. Like I said Dan and his crew dont mess around. Falling and Eternal are rather good, some great choruses in there but the centerpiece of Alive Again is the eleven minute plus Eternal. Even though it is over ten minutes Eternal flies by as if it was barely four or five. It has some great vocal lines in it and some sweet guitar melodies and you just become lost in it pretty much. A great chorus and with varying moods this is definitely the most complex and comprehensive song on here. The rest of the album seems to go down a little bit after the glorious Eternal they seem a little pale in comparison but still worthy enough to grace my player. State of Shock is quite crunchy compared to the rest of the album, and The One is a synth laden dream type of song while Shadowland Serenade and Forever and Never end the album on a pleasant note with high class rockers.

Alive Again is a mature, classy if you will, melodic hard rock album. I dont think its fair at all though to compare Nightingale with any of Dan Swanos other bands and its best to come here without any preconceptions or notions about what to expect. I personally, had a pleasant listening experience with Alive Again and I think other fans of melodic rock will as well.