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Down from the far reaches of the Southern United States comes the overcrowded progressive power metal field's latest newcomer, Artizan. Like seemingly every other band coming into the scene, they're painfully unoriginal. They offer nothing new. However, most fans of the sound aren't looking or originality. They're looking for flashy solos, towering crescendos and soaring, diverse vocal ranges. Artizan don't quite have that, but they have some of it, and they certainly have the potential to get there.

Everyone in Artizan is exceptionally talented, and there's no denying that. Tom Braden is a competent singer, but he's the only cog in the machine that isn't working up to speed. Sure, decent, but he doesn't have the necessary wailing pipes to carry such grandiose music. He's never off key, and has a good midrange, but never develops the gripping emotional potency required for this genre. The rest of the band are able to carve out good but never all that memorable melodies. They sound like a group of very talented musicians who haven't been playing with each other for very long. There's potential here, but it's unrealized, as the band members simply need more time to click together, especially on the songwriting and organizational end of things.

Artizan need to keep moving, and stay focused on the writing. That's what will propel them forward. For now, they're stuck in the middle of a crowded genre.