Stormwind - Reflections

*=Staff's pick	Genesis War of Troy* The Man behind the Iron Mask Reflections Illusion* Golden Tears Queen of Nine Days Dynasty Assasin of Honour* Ramses

Genre	Power Metal	Thomas Vikström	Vocals
Tracks	10	Thomas Wolf	Guitar
Runningtime	45 Min.	-	Guitar
Label	Massacre Records	Andreas Olsson	Bass
Release	Dec. 2001	Patrik Johansson	Drums
Country	Sweden	Kaspar Dahlqvist	Keyboards
Similar artists	---

The 5th album from Stormwind felt like it could be interesting since the previous releases have taken some steps forward for each time. But the disappointment after the first listening session on this album was vast.
The production is pretty thin and soulless I must say, and it all just goes on and on without reaching somewhere.
The album doesn't seem to be able to take off at any point.

I don't really who this album might appeal to - it won't attract the fans of the latest years power/heavymetal that has gotten used to and demands some strong melodies and choruses, and the more softer, more into plain hardrock fans won't hardly like it either.

If I should compare this to similar bands it would be somewhere in the areas of Majestic and a faster Narnia - even Yngwie Malmsteen to some extent (without the solos). This album is kind of boring, to sum it up in a few words.
I can hear that Thomas Wolf & company really try to play in the same league as the bands of tody in the same genre, but that is a mission that fails.

I find only 3 songs that reach some kind of quality and delivers metal that we don't hear 13 on a dozen of, and that makes at least me very, very sleepy hearing - War of Troy, Illusion and Assasin of Honour.
These tracks offers tempo, some amount of melodies and good choruses.
But for the rest - don't bother.

There are thousands of better and more interesting releases out there for you to check out before this one.

The recordlabels own words:"With majestic choirs, brilliant guitar and keyboardduels Stormwind shows that they are maintaining their leading position among the classical metalbands."

My words: My ass - this is not good.

Production	Vocals	Compositions
6,5	7	5,5

Summary
5 chalices of 10 - Tommy

Mat´s opinion: Not available