Antonio Pantano-Arcandia

Track 1. Intro March to the Frozen Plain- Growing into your ears, as well as into your very mind, comes an outwards essence of a world full of danger, fire, and evil that beckons upon the wind. Two men discuss where they shall rest for the night. A delicious digital melody is invited pleasantly into the track. I don't know if it's a violin or just digital melody but I like this. The song sort of drifts up and create sort of a sailing feel of darkness. Creating an imagery within your mind of possibly standing up against the night, an oncoming storm. A cadence of drums, along with a rumbling start a build up of that is a dramatic affect. The track ends upon the open world atmospheric sounds of the cruel environment and its punishing winds. A very interesting intro for an album.

Track 2. Hymn to Brave- Another interesting 'open world' sort of story telling here... but it is quite short lived. You escape quickly into drawn out metal riffs that give way to a symphonic presence, loaded with melody. I am really liking the subtle piano. The drums die hard and bleed in the mix so awesomely just the way the sick guitar riffs do. SWEET FUCKING MELODIC GUITAR RIFFS!!! Its like a spinning utter mind fuck. Wish this track would have been longer, love it!

Track 3. Valley of the Dragons- A strumming clean guitar and a I believe it to a pipe of some sort, entangle you within a beautiful trance that starts this piece. The notes wind around creating a state of calm, a charm that pulls you in. Subtly however the metal, begins. First the kick ass riffs, and then onto the crisp power laden drums! The groove slowly overtakes the song, though the beautiful melodies are still in place. You want to think that it is a transition moment, but it's just another short good track of symphonic metal. Amazing scenery, not that your eyes can see it, but that your heart and ears can feel, hear them. There is a beauty and inspirational feel all its own here.

Track 4. Icy Tempest- (The Epic Frost)- A trembling notion of seemingly afflicted fingers have an approach that just stumbles into a sheer metal force of fury! Like an animal it strikes. The foreboding crunch of distortion reigns in supreme. The drummer contains a tight and yet sharp essence of a well sustained hell blasting madness with that mighty double bass. They waste no effort here with being technical, and there is no lack of proficiency what so ever. They make it sound so damn easy, yet awesome loud and ALIVE! Powerful and bombastic elements that reach within your soul providing a flavor of humor mixed with a fire that does not die. A madness begins to become awake within the mix in the form of the electric guitar that shreds a kick ass melody. The song takes on a mighty and epic feel, as it clamors to its heavy yet low baring chimes of rustic justice. Low spoken words from a male vocalist are heard, speaking of a story about an Epic Frost. All while the Epic and inspirational music lays a pronounced and yet magnificent background for the ears and the mind to get lost within. These may not be singing vocals, but with the back ground music of the track and just the sheer force of information the speaker rambles on about, it's just beautiful, and transformative all around, for a brief moment while listening to this music you feel a part of something grand! It makes you feel like you can do anything. You can hear the climax of the music. You almost do not want it to end, but you know that it must, and then the track ends upon the speakers words echoing about, speaking of how everything will come to waste. I can say that the words are clear, the accent is quite compelling. A vastly interesting story is being told.

rack 5. Heroes of the Mighty Castle- A very low, chiming effect brought about by a wind instrument, or maybe a digital effect fills the track. A warm yet somewhat distant male speaker fills the track with his words. Sweet melodic metal riffs, reach over your head in the track across the grains of time. The drums pound out an interesting yet creative part, seemingly minimalist in a way, but very well timed. All of the melodies both wood wind and digital intertwine together PERFECTLY with the metal guitars. The pounding of the drums gets stronger, more dynamic as the track continues to settle in and take over. You begin to get a right on money taste of aggressive metal here and there. The kick ass melodies continue as if upon a righteous journey of some sort. Some sort of symphonic vocals reign supreme yelling to the heavens of a cause we know nothing of, but can only imagine it is one that the METAL gods, behold themselves over with imposing governance. Other vocals pierce into the track possibly of a crowd splintering in and about with a whine of desperation. An eclectic groove closes the song out, along with a small yet EPIC mini guitar solo.

Track 6. Furia Divina (King Atheristan VI)- The beautifully EPIC echo of a lead guitar spans the track with a dynamic intro. First the guitar seems calm, but then it awakens to something more frightening and desperate. Speaking of a possible mission. Maybe it is a heroes quest, one of medieval hope. Classical themed instruments of the stringed variety cleverly chime into the track quite well, not over powering but quite affective enough. The notes dangle down the fretboard like a crack infested spider, arranging an impressive yet eclectic guitar riff that dances its way to the end of the song. A cadence upon the drums devises a well concerted effort at a serious ending, it feels laid in stone and complete, unquestionable.

Track 7. Orania- A swelling up of a powerful sound, that is either drums or an atmospheric affect begins this charge of madness. EPIC.You are taken over by the pounding rhythmic drums, as well as the slithering occasional metal riffs, they are aggressive and pronounced but yet with an overly awesome progressive feel to them. This track is nothing short of mighty and seemingly proud. Your ears are treated to what sounds like woodwinds, brass, a full on orchestra, mixed here and there with pieces of EPIC METAL, progressively and VERY well defined. It is THOROUGHLY fun, eclectic, and intelligent. Awesome, thrilling and nasty all at the same time.As you go on it keeps building to a quiet stage of ending, a similar place that we were at in the beginning. The spoken male vocals, speak of a prominent and royal historical significant reality. All the while the magnificent backing track of an utter force of melody plays on, prying your mind wide open to a complete full beauty that grasps the day, the night, the dusk, and the dawn. You only wish for more, but it slowly fades away.

Track 8. Ancient Folks of the North- An instant clean melodic foreplay of guiding grooves begins the song. A clapping of drums, yanks you by the balls without mercy! Metal, drips, and leaks into the track. A progressive yet symphonic essence of metal rambles about within your mind. It panders away at you, with its message of hope, meaning to inspire you, and it does. All of the instruments have continuously and creatively orchestrated, with utter PERFECTION a well balanced force of melodic madness. Everything seems to be laid correctly in place. An organ slips into the track giving a completely crazy feel to the song. A buzzing digital swaying melody dances about on a mind altering trip. The song settles back into its symphonic yet metal laden progressive feel. The song almost seems to be waging battle with itself, a dark force against a lighter one. A pounding presence against a fleeting and mighty one that stands high as well as tall. It is thorough onto itself with melody, timing and a presence that speaks volumes of the calamities that stand the test of time. It provokes modern reason with a tempered joy, but gets you to take the task further with the tease of defeat. At a point you then begin to feel the end, it comes along with a dragging strength. The EPIC metal guitars fade into the track along with the melodies, woodwinds embrace the fore front of the track all alone, leaving us with a picture laid at our ears simply saying, this is it, this was our people, our story.

Track 9. Elvish Woods- A rumbling storm as it seems, but it really is a fore warning flavored, woodwind filled overture. A jingling sprays its percussive stance within the mix. You can already feel the journey, possibly one of sadness, but one that can not, and shall not give up. The medieval melodies play with the pounding drums creating a perfect dynamic. It marches on within itself, mighty and whole. It's mind is untouched with a sheer force of synced up will, and completely stubborn utter defiance. You begin to wonder where the end of this may be, but there in lies the answer, as the storm seemingly clears away to reveal a beautiful woodwind touch. The medieval yet subtle groove approaches you again with a steady pair of hands. The low trudging baritone delivers a final blow. A final blow to a forbidden bass drum is heard, and the track dies in your own to two hands.

Track 10. Born from the Cold- A rush of cold air forms upon your ears. The sharp and beautiful piano induces a feeling of nakedness into your mind. These notes impact your soul, reaching down deep, especially when the subtle digital effects sweep in, and the parts get just a little bit darker. A slight stumbling of the keys transpires, and then the ending becomes a sudden and yet jolted deliberate stroke genius.

Track 11. On Top of the World- Warm yet subtly fuzzy piano parts fade inwards, collapsing together, to create an explosion of awesome melodic METAL!!! You can hear a punchy drum in the back of the track. Digital effects expand well across the mix. A thoroughly divine riff moves it's way through the mix. A harmonic alliance of metal is made, it's like a soul of living breathing metal. Fire, steam, and a mountain that moves itself upon command, that's what this music is. It grows on you in the most passionate of ways. The tracks seem to be getting shorter. All of this makes you wonder if the ending is being set up as some large grand finale, that may lie ahead.

Track 12. Majestic Wind of the Northlands- A lone, and yet creepy male voice speaks nearly inaudible words that echo and die quickly. A beat is nailed onto a drum of some sort in a very rough fashion. It changes over to an actual drum set. Crisp, vile, and hard hitting . A full on assault of METAL. Things get very aggressive here. A nearly unholy singing graces the backing track, as if something dark is coming. An evil that none can handle all on their own. And then the mighty METAL, joins into the fray of the track. Descending and then ascending with notes that spray a dark delicious melody. This music is creative and it thoroughly impresses from start to end. Punchy yet forbidding sounding AWE inspiring drums. And then a gust of wind chiming towards greatness carries with it a clean turning style that beckons your ears to only listen a bit further more. Darkness has somehow turned to a bright day, and you know somehow that all shall be alright, though it has not been an easy fight or even journey for that matter. Things begin to come clearer, the strums echo. Woodwinds carry a beautiful tune as you can see the lonesome end in sight. A fun and catchy clatter of bang and boom take over with a ferocity. It becomes more of a medieval rocking theme. A tight sound all its own and then some. A very creative groove that you can actually move to, the woodwinds fathom up a melody that is both wholesome and great. The classical instruments and rocking ancient drums fade into the track, too bad I was really digging this. I would not have minded if this song was much longer, absolutely great music here all over.

Track 13. Escape from the Frost- Flames and an EPIC escape from the jaws of a dramatic evil can be heard starting this masterful voyage. A pronounced orchestra reigns over the track. METAL... bleeds ever so perfectly with dark crunching riffs into the fray. Subtle bells tingle about and you wonder why. You receive your answer with an EPIC metal solo, first one then another guitar jumps in for the long hazy ride, violin's ascend to the mix for a jolt of something crazy. A harmonic mind bender of melody spans the track. A determination of daring plight begs for a surrender of your thoughts. Hard hitting drums provide a steady back bone for this living breathing symphonic METAL BEAST. A tight groove battles on, until digital effects set forth a dramatic prison for the listener to become lost within. A heavy and yet steady honorable cadence of METAL, slowly churns about, as if ready to die, to take a bullet. The march stammers on, slowly, with the taste of blood, the foreshadowing of death within reach. A stumble within the track draws your mind to question it, but then you understand just what the hell is going on, everything begins to make complete sense. The climax and culmination of the journey, and every single reason for everything tonight. This feels like a war not fought in vain, but a success that has turned rightly so, just at the right time on its head, only to subtly fade into an abyss of beautiful sorrow.

Track 14. Closing Return to Summer Lands- A cool rush of what seems like a day at the beach begins its approach just right. Melodic though distant metal in the mix moves along at an aggressive rate. Very catchy though a little worn and fuzzy. A positive enriching set in its ways tone. It cares only for the after affect, seemingly a change. Before the journey seemed to matter, now just the after thought, interesting and VERY compelling. A burst of sweet metal throws the track into a crazy direction before the watery grave washes away everything. A clean classical guitar strums on before it fades into silence. A dead absence of sound falls upon your ears if just for a moment, you have been tricked! A fun yet worn groove filled with crunchy and classical elements fills your ears until submission is granted, and only then at the end that you which have asked for, do you suddenly wish for more, another truly EPIC track from this band. Track 15. Cooley's Reel- Instant yet rocking melodic METAL, within a turbine of crazed distortion, churns full speed ahead of you. Your ears, your thoughts, your mind can barely keep up with the sheer violent apprehension of the song. It's as if a maddening yet passionate ocean of sound has come forth and exploded within your head. Mind altering, a crazy experience of utter joy, and complete metal menacing fun. The final EPIC guitar riff stretches out to slap evil seemingly in the face.

Track 16. Dragonvale- The charming sound of birds chirping about, with water running and even with a form of bliss steadily running onto the wind, begin this dance of passion. A subtle spray of the cymbals crash lets you know what may be coming. The jingle of bells, and the head turning chime of a woodwind create a magical joy, a fun trip. A clean yet melodic force of wonderful coy filled music. A continuing essence of outstanding awe, in complete defiance of all that dares to question it. The album dies upon the sounds of flowing life, presented as cleanly and as clearly as day. A cool fresh drink from the spring.

This has very likely been one of the most MELODIC bands I have ever reviewed, and not just with the Melodic metal riffs. The orchestral parts stir within your body, mind, and soul. It reaches within your depths, exposing you to everything that could be right, that IS PERFECT. There are moments I do wish there were more METAL spots here, but that lack there of, is made up quickly by the continued yet interesting story, as well as the ABSOLUTE string of melody and fright throughout this album. Every key, every stroke and strum. All beats, tumbles, and stumbles. Every single drop of passion, creativity, and exception. A complete symphonic metal, yet orchestral and atmospheric MASTERPIECE. Thoroughly enjoyed this review start to end! Overall Rating 10/10.

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