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This is the third album of Californian traditional metal act Benedictum. I liked their 2007 release 'Seasons of Tragedy' and I must admit that this one will find its way to my stereo on a regular basis too. With Veronica Freeman they have one of the best female metal vocalists. Not a wimpy opera-like singing sound, no a real heavy and aggressive vocalist that could be the female version of a mixture between Dio (RIP), Halford and Udo. In the review of their second album I also compared Veronica with Leather Leone (Chastain) and that still counts.

Musically the change isn't that big either, but I have the idea that they have used even more influences from the English 80's metal Gods like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath. All of this of course done without losing their traditional American sound. The biggest difference is that only Veronica and Pete Wells are still in the band, the other three are new, but it still is Benedictum all the way.

In the second track "At the Gates" a band like Primal Fear isn't that far away either. That Veronica has a nice clean voice too, can be heard in the beginning of "Dark Heart", one of the best songs on the album. Faster songs are easily combined with slower heavier ones. "Loud Silence" has a construction with a softer beginning and a more heavy part in the middle. Next song "Epsilon" is a longer epic kind of track and bonus track "Sanctuary" is the softest song with acoustic guitars and Veronica's beautiful voice reminding me of Grace Slick (J. Airplane). To cover a Rush song as second bonus isn't easy and very risky, but Benedictum made a successful version of the Rush track.

On the second album they had some guests to help them out and on this one that is no different. Jeff Pilson, Rudy Sarzo and Craig Goldy once more appear on the song "Bang". Fans of the bands I've mentioned above and those who like traditional heavy metal have another one to spend their money on.

Highly Recommended!

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