Lion Music round-up some of their leading talents on this symphonic meets prog metal release. Mastermind Lars Eric Mattsson provides guitars and keys, with other guests including keyboard wizard Vitalij Kuprij, Winterlong’s Mikael Holm and the aptly named Eddie Sledgehammer on drums.

There is plenty of guitar and keyboard soloing on here like ‘Guardian of Time’ or the opener ‘Phoenix’, where the keyboards really let rip! The pace slackens slightly for ‘Slippin’ Away’ where the vocals take a front seat. You can’t fault the music on here but I’d have preferred a bit more variety in the vocalists - it lacks a strong female vocal like Irene Jansen or Lana Lane.

Very well produced and played (perhaps a little to overplayed in parts for my liking), this will appeal to fans of Winterlong, Stratovarius and symphonic metal fans.

***

Review by Jason Ritchie

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