Autumnal [Import]

Dark Moor Returns to form with another Solid CD. After hearing the Excellent Cd "Beyond the Sea" I had high expectations for the follow up "Tarot" and boy was Tarot a disaster. The concept of Tarot was good, but the songs themeselves Failed miserably, they were boring , half of them beigns with the word "the" only a few tracks on there stand out.

Thats not the case with their latest "Autumnal". Just like "Beyond The Sea" EVERY song on "Autumnal" stands out. The first single "On the Hill of dreams" is VERY catchy, specially the bridge with the female vocalist doing the harmonies. Amazing song. "For Her" is another amazing song with great melodies and catchy chorus. The openning track "Swan Lake" is long but effective and very catchy. The CD has orchestration sprinkled here and there but in a good way and makes the music solid and worth listening to over and over.

WARNING: Dark Moor stopped playing Power Metal in 2003, they changed genre and lead singer and now play Symphonic Metal with classical elements. If you want another "The Gates of Oblivion" listen to "The Hall of The Olden Dreams".

After Elisa Martin left, Dark Moor has done some experimentation with some success over the last several years. They didn't manage to get much attention until "Tarot", their third release with Alfred Romero on vocals--a mediocre and often times silly release at best. However, two years later Dark Moor has nailed it down with "Autumnal", an album showing all the bands maturity, beautiful song writing, and genius that all their experimentation resulted in.

"Autumnal" is a completely solid and classic Symphonic Metal album. It is rare indeed to hear a band of this genre with male vocals, yet alone a band that plays such unique music all together. Dark Moor uses classic musical themes and bases songs off historical figures and stories to create very powerful and magical songs. This genre may not be for you, the focus is not guitar solos or riffs (though this album has plenty great ones), but rather classical based vocal melodies with female background vocals exploring different classical music themes. Though I hesitate in making any comparisons, be aware that typically Symphonic Metal has been defined by bands such as Nightwish, Therion, Epica, Sirenia, and Within Temptation (mostly female vocals). Dark Moor plays a similar kind of music but in a very original way and with male vocals. It is somewhat opera like symphonic metal with classical elements. Some songs might not click with you but that's the nature of their writing. Songs that I love are, "On The Hill of Dreams", "Don't Look Back", and "The Enchanted Forest".

By all means give this album a shot, their 2010 release is just as good if not better.

I loved the idea of mixing metal and classic and this is one of the bands that are best for them! I've bought more than one album, and have never been disappointed.