• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Switzerland's Emerald has been around for nearly 15 years, but this is my first exposure to the band. Re-Forged, Emerald's fifth album, is a mix of galloping, Iron Maiden style Heavy Metal and the happy, keyboard drenched Power Metal of bands like Heavenly. OK, no one is THAT happy, but you get my meaning. What's interesting is that two styles are not mixed within individual songs. There are tracks that clearly gallop, for example "The Wanderer" or "Witches Tower," while others soar majestically like "Pipes are Calling" and "Until My Winter Comes." It's almost as though there were two different albums started, both with different directions that, in the end, were combined into one.

Singer Thomas Winkler has a strong voice and oftentimes sounds not unlike Rob Halford. The rest of the band members are excellent, if unspectacular, performers. Re-Forged is solid and enjoyable, but ultimately a bit generic. While it's on, you'll tap your foot or even break out the air guitar, but once it's over there isn't anything that will stick in your head. At lot of promise can be found on Re-Forged, but some catchier tunes are in order.