Labyrinth - Freeman

*=Staff's pick	L.Y.A.F.H. Deserter Dive In Open Waters Freeman M3 Face And Pay* Malcolm Grey Nothing New Infidels Meanings

Genre	Progressive Power Metal	Roberto Tiranti	Vocals
Tracks	10	Andrea Cantarelli	Guitar
Runningtime	44 Min.	Pier Gonella	Guitar
Label	Arise Records	Cristiano Bertocchi	Bass
Release	04 March 2005	Mattia Stancioiu	Drums
Country	Italy	Andrea De Paoli	Keyboards
Similar artists	Vision Divine

In search of a new approach, and new ways of expressing themselves, Labyrinth end up in a sort of no-mans-land. The melodies have been replaced by something that is supposed to represent modern guitars, consisting of pretty monotone attemps to play it heavy and somewhat thrashy, mixed with the guitars being just a wall of sound. What I miss is clear melodies and some refrains that lift the whole thing, as well as some good solos and leads which practically are absent this time.

It is honorable that they want to go a slightly different way, but unfortunatly it doesn't work very well this time. The elements that they have kept intact from previous albums sound the same but far from as good, and the ones they have changed sound unfitting and malplaced. The production is quite thin and - presumably - by intension raw and naked. There are peaks to be found on this album, both in the new areas as well as the old familiar, but they are few.

Way too sugarsweet, weak and edgeless for my taste this time. My recommendation is nevertheless to check this one up if you are a fan since before. This just don't do anything for me. If you are unfamiliar with the band so far, I doubt that you need to bother, instead check up on the previous releases.

Production	Vocals	Compositions
5	6	4

Summary
4 chalices of 10 - Tommy