Arrayan Path is really the project of singer Nicholas Leptos and this is the
third album to date. The album features guest appearances of Tony Martin
(ex-Black Sabbath) and Vagelis Maranis (Sanvoisen), who lends his voice on
several songs. Socrates Leptos (guitar), Alexis Kleidaras (guitar), Vagelis
Maranis (bass), George Kallis (keyboards) and Stefan Dittrich (drums) complete
this albums line-up.
With
the vocals on this album there is nothing wrong, all strong clear powerful ones
and the choir parts (especially in "Emir of the Faithful") sound o.k. too. The
13 songs are all real epic power metal songs and aren't a lot different from
what we know from their earlier albums. Great melodies, fast bass drums, great
keyboard and piano parts, orchestral parts, happy tunes and an excellent
production are the keywords for this album. Fast tracks like "Kiss of Kali"
(with Eastern influences), "77 Days 'til Doomsday", "Amenophis" and more epic
ones like "Gnosis Prometheus", "Katherine of Aragon" (with a nice heavy riff)
and "I Sail across the Seven Seas"; the album has it all. "The Fall of Mardonius"
is a very epic track with nice orchestral parts and you can hear the Iron Maiden
influences lay on top. The bonus track is a touchy piano ballad that will be
loved by a lot of girls even when they are not into metal. I advice you to keep
your Handkerchief and shoulders very close.
Everyone that liked their previous album 'Terra Incognita' (Chris G.) and fans
of the more happy side of power metal with an epic touch (think Angra, Freedom
Call, Firewind, and Helloween) can grab a few coins again to purchase this
album. Nothing new, but it sounds so very good! One of the better ones this year
in the power metal genre.