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This is the second album from this Swedish band, and while at first spin I didn't much care for it, it has grown on me quite a lot with repeated listens. For Swedes, Axenstar sound a lot like a Finnish band, with a little Italian thrown in for good measure.

Now I won't say this is original or exciting, because it really isn't, but it is a good listen. These guys have a very smooth, polished, happy-sounding style that does remind me quite a bit of some Finnish bands like Twilightning or Dreamtale, with a bit of PowerQuest thrown in. In other words, this is pretty darn generic. Axenstar are speedy, but they aren't obsessive about it, and they do slow things down sometimes. I really can't pick out much about this band that stands out – there is nothing about them that really bears holding up for admiration or singling out for complaint. This is a very professional sounding CD with glossy production values and good musicianship, catchy melodies and good if not spectacular vocals. That said this is an enjoyable album, and while Axenstar aren't going to blow anybody away, they have put together a good album. On a single listen this will all sort of blur past, but repeated listens will find you liking it more each time. "Far From Heaven" isn't headbanger fuel, but when you are in a mellow mood it is a very satisfying listen.

So this is not innovative or aggressive, but what Axenstar do, they do very well. If you like keyboardy power metal then this band is well worth looking into, as I myself am not a huge fan of this school, and I like this album surprisingly well.