Tracks:

Emotional Skies
Purgatory Time
I Refuse
Humanity Overdose
The Assailant
Power
No Tears for Strangers
The Return
Jack the Knife
Child of the Wild

Well, if you read my review for the last Falconer album, you probably got the impression that I was less than ecstatic about it. I still don't really listen to it unless it comes up on random.

I was pleasantly surprised, however, when I read on Blabbermouth that they were about to release a new album, and even more surprised to find it waiting for me in the mailbox when I got home that very day. How cool is that? Metal Blade rules.

I think Falconer knew the last album was a bit of a stinker, because they promised this one would be better. Is it better? Yes. I am happy to inform you that Falconer is back in rocking form. The "new" singer sounds more natural to me this time around, like he belongs there.

I will probably always like the second album the best, so there is no point comparing this album to it. Their sound is just a little different now than it was back then, but what they are doing now is still quite good.

I love how they do power metal without venturing into the squeaky high vocal register that some bands insist on inhabiting. Imagine, power metal with a deeper voice. Firewind, Dream Evil, and the latest Jacobs Dream also fall into this category. More bands should take the hint.

I can't honestly say there are any songs on here I dislike. I do expect that this one will get a fair bit more rotation from me than the last one.

Tracks:

The Coronation
The Trail of Flames
Under the Sword
Night of Infamy
Hooves Over Northland
Pledge for Freedom
Ravenhair
The Sceptre of Deception
Hear Me Pray
Child of Innocence

I am a very big fan of the first two Falconer albums. They are not your typical power metal band at all. I think their roots lie in the death metal community, so perhaps that gives them their unique sound.

Anyway, I loved the first two albums, a great mix of metal with a slight folk element. Good stuff.

So you can understand that when I heard Falconer had a new singer I was quite dismayed over the possibility of them now sucking. Not only that, but the new album was to be a concept album. I'm not a big fan of the concept album anymore. It was cool when I was younger, but now I've noticed that the music tends to suffer for the telling of the story.

The actual result lies somewhere in a gray area in the middle.

The new singer is a good singer, he fits the style, I have no complaints with his ability other than the fact that he is not the old singer. I REALLY liked the old singer. I suppose I will get over it.

As for the story making the album boring, I can't really say that is a big problem either. I would prefer a non-concept album, but this could be a lot worse than it is.

I think I'm being resistant to change. If I had not heard the first two Falconer albums I would be loving it, but as it stands I'm more likely to listen to the first two albums than this one.

I really should give it a fair shake, and maybe I will eventually. Don't let me influence your opinion here, this really is a very good album. (Any chance the old singer might come back??)