Alkemyst is a French band that started back in 1998. They released their debut 'Meeting in the Mist' back in 2003 through Nuclear Blast. Perhaps that album did not get the response Nuclear Blast expected and they had to look for another label. Last year they released this album and they still play the same kind of style they did on their debut and the line-up remains the same.

It is still the Italian Ramon Messina (also Secret Sphere), who takes care of the vocals. On the second record the band has put in more progressive elements and less speedy power tracks. Not that there are no fast power metal tracks anymore (just listen to "The Beast Within", " Enter the Carnival", "Grand Illusion"), they have just made more progressive songs. You can hear that the band has made some progression and that the song writing has improved. Influences from a band like Pagan's Mind can be found and fans of Blind Guardian will like it as well. Some softer parts even remind me of Demons & Wizards.

The cover song "Eagle Fly Free" is a nice interpretation of the original, but doesn't beat it. All in all this is a nice progressive power album that will find it's way to a lot of fans in this genre. If you don't already own it, you should still purchase it, even when it's already more than a year old.