I am so glad
this one ended up on my platter because this one is so much better and more
mature than the first one “The Music That Will Heal the World” from 2007, and
Daniele Liverani has struck gold with new vocalist Göran Nyström, who not often
reminds me of a rougher version of Michael Kiske. Mastermind and sole song
writer Daniele Liverani takes us on another journey into well documented and
tested territory, a bit rougher and darker than on the debut album.
While the
debut album had a few fillers and lacked a clear direction there is no shortage
of anything on "The Forbidden City", but four songs stand above the rest: 'The
Forbidden City', 'BTR' (excellent instrumental), 'Hide the Feeling' (wonderful
ballad that could have been written by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra guys) and '
I Am Free' and we would have had a small masterpiece on our hands, had the rest
been up with them. Now we just have to settle for a very good and well produced
progressive metal album that should fill the needs for genre freaks. But the
potential for something stronger and bigger is clearly there...
Without a
doubt the best album Daniele has ever written - and that's quite a few - and a
huge step forward in every department; well written, crafted and executed, and a
pleasant surprise for me!
