The Storyteller - Underworld

*=Staff's pick	Changeling* Eyes Of The Dead The Fiddler Watcher In The Deep* Your Time Has Come Beauty Is The Beast* Underworld* Magic Elements Shine On Ace Of Spades

Genre	Power Metal	L-G Persson	Vocals
Tracks	10	Fredrik Groth	Guitar
Runningtime	43 Min.	Jacob Wennerqvist	Guitar
Label	Black Lodge	Johan Sohlberg	Bass
Release	04 Nov. 2005	Martin Hjerpe	Drums
Country	Sweden	Fredrik Groth	Keyboards
Similar artists	Falconer, Hammerfall, Nocturnal Rites

Ten years has passed since L-G Persson and Fredrik Groth started playing medieval songs on acoustic guitars together. When they released their first album five years later the music had changed in a more electrical direction and even though the medieval sound still was around it was at this point now based in power metal. The debut received a lot of good reviews but apart from a few highlights it didn't do much for me personally. Their second album Crossroad maybe sounded better productionwise but the compositions weren't on par with its predecessor. A problem that instantly was solved with 2003 years offering Tales Of A Holy Quest which without doubt were their best release so far.

This autumn it's time for The Storyteller's fourth album entitled Underworld. My first reaction when I heard the album was that the atmosphere was a lot darker and that their brand of power metal now is on the verge to be classified heavy metal. You can also hear that this band has played together quite some time now because they are extremely tight and the members definitely now how to handle their instruments. The vocals has in the past been one of the weak spots of this band but I think L-G's confidence has increased a lot in that department which you really can tell by the outcome of this product. Still, he is no Michael Kiske but maybe that is to ask for the impossible.

One of the highlights of Underworld is the production which is really heavy and crystal clear. I'm not surprised in that matter either because the album is partly recorded in Studio Underground by the mastermind Pelle Saether.

The album starts in midtempo with the brilliant track Changeling. A thick and heavy riff builds up the verse that finally leads to a great chorus. Watcher In The Deep is also one of my favourite tracks with a fantastic guitar melody as its finest ingredient. The best song however is the title track with tight and rhythmical riffs and a mesmerizing chorus. Apart from the mentioned tracks I would say that if there is one thing this album lacks, it is strong choruses. A couple of songs start really promising but falls flat when the song is about to lift. It's not a big problem, but still it leaves you a little bit disappointed. On the downside is also the pointless cover version of Ace Of Spades, a track that should have stayed in the rehearsal room.

In conclusion there is no question about that Underworld is the best album in Storyteller's career and if they just focus on writing better choruses in the future I for one believe that they will climb an extra step on the ladder of fame.

See also review of: Sacred Fire , Crossroad

Production	Vocals	Compositions
9	7	7

Summary
7 chalices of 10 - Hawk