That Embrace of Souls is an Italian band will be clear within the first minute of their third album, The Battle of the Dead. Happy power metal with all the trimmings (double-kick drums, neoclassical solos, clear male and female singing, you know the drill) is done smart and slick with plenty of hooks, big melodies and catchy choruses. I need to call out singer Martina Mazzeo, as her voice is a real pleasure to hear. I haven't heard someone blend operatic singing with power metal this well since Tarja Turunen at the height of her time with Nightwish. The Battle of the Dead is an album that isn't innovative, but the band hit exactly what they were aiming for and did it well, so fans of Rhapsody of Fire, Sonata Arctica, Ancient Bards, etc. should eat it up.