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I was almost sick of the entire Finnish metal scene. Not that I dislike any of it – on the contrary, a lot of my favorite artists hail from the great forest land. But album after album of Finnvox metal started to irritate me, so believe me it is a pleasure to announce that the debut album from these feisty Finns is an absolute corker. Diverse, dynamic and genre-eschewing, Beautiful Darkness is a bountiful platter of mystical melody and well balanced belligerence. Featuring male and female vocals, Tacere fall somewhere within the Prog/Power metal category which swings through a veritable plexus of influences, including strands of Silent Voices, Children of Bodom, Sonata Arctica, Nightwish, Therion and even Sentenced-like fibers, which certainly ameliorates the stale mess the genre was growing into.

Mixed by the legendary Anssi Kippo, Beautiful Darkness has a defined sound, both crude and crystalline. Predominately dark subject matter scars the lyrical surface, with a soothing, orchestral underpinning that is prominent throughout. Vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Karri Knuuttila has a strong, rather accented voice, which in addition to the absolutely stunning vocal beauty of Finnish deity Helena Haaparanta, adds a welcome change to the death growls often affiliated with this music. "Deep Tears of Tragedy" smashes forth in a delivery similar to Nightwish's "I Wish I Had an Angel", chillingly taut guitar harmonies intertwine during the intro of "Foes of the Sun", some intense harpsichord rattling ensues on "Black Roses" and single track "I Devour" boasts a chorus even Thunderstone couldn't rasp out with more passionate fervor.

Haunting melodies, labyrinthine song structures and memorable melodies abound, this is a very promising debut that should see Tacere signed to a bigger label in no time. Vastly inspirational, Beautiful Darkness truly is an album of gorgeous music.