From Spain, Jordi Sandalinas switched from piano to guitar after listening to Iron Maiden. A good career move, no doubt. On this second album, he's enlisted a few melodic rock middleweights including Rick Altzi (At Vance) on vocals, Patrik Johansson (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen) and Mick Cervino (Blackmore's Night) on bass. Derek Sherinian contributes keys on one track, 'Seasons In The Sand', an atmospheric mid-tempo piece that closes the album.

In fact, it's Altzi who really gives this album a veneer of high quality metal sheen, his style in the Joe Lynn Turner/David Coverdale School of Rock, a venerable academy that also embraces Jorn Lande.

It's difficult to pick out highlights because it's all damn fine, including the title track, the grinding 'Bad Dreams' and 'Ring Of Fire', and 'No Matter What' with its chorus evoking prime-time late-period Rainbow. 'The Healer Talks' is text-book killer melodic rock and prompts one of Altzi's best performances, topped with Sandalina's always-controlled guitar figures.

Together with Swedish label-mates Lechery, what a great start to 2008 for Metal Heaven.

****½

Review by David Randall