Altaria
The Fallen Empire

The Fallen Empire is not a simple album; it is not merely a collection of fast, melodic metal tunes. Instead, it represents a twist, or a bold move in a complex musical situation, despite being a mediocre collection of simple tracks.
Who said that albums released on the market must necessarily offer new material and technical instrumental innovations? Can't the band in question propose a collection of music that they simply like?

And the Altaria, in 2003, produced "Invitation". This first album wasn't exactly a Debut, as it featured guitarists Jani Liimatainen from Sonata Arctica and Empu Vuorinen from Nightwish at the time; also Jouni Nikula, singer from Requiem. Thus, a CD was born from various collaborations, a commercial move that had long been fashionable in the metal scene, but while Avantasia enjoyed much success, these Altaria (whose name recalls a flying Pokemon similar to a little dragon) raised many doubts by offering heavy metal drowned in pomp rock.
For various Finns, this result did not lead to defeat, as every band member, for better or worse, played with more powerful and famous groups, and only a year later Jani and Vuorinen, this time alongside Taage Laiho, an obese guy but with an excellent voice for power metal, coming from various musical projects including Kilpi (famous in Finland) and Hevinkelium, reunite to make a new more convincing Altaria album.
Indeed, "Destiny" arouses more curiosity, so much so that the entire band is often regarded as one of the top interpreters of Power Metal.
Then for a while, who could be seen was seen. Nightwish entered a period of crisis while Sonata Arctica were increasingly asserting themselves as one of the best Melodic Speed Metal bands.

Come 2006, Jani realizes he is faced with a choice, and decides to leave Altaria to dedicate himself heart and soul to Sonata, in his place comes J-P Alanen from a promising but short-lived project, that of Celesty to which I have already dedicated a review.
To the vocals comes Taage Laiho, the owner of a company in the music field and a decent singer, who understands the situation and realizes that Altaria has crumbled, and what remains is a project that can be kept alive with willpower, but absolutely cannot set and assert itself again. As if that wasn't enough, the band begins a Tour with Doro but especially as a supporting act to Sonata Arctica, thus representing a sort of internal humiliation.
Fortunately, not all is lost, and Rowan Robertson (ex-Dio) contributes, following the example is also that great man Henrik Klingenberg, keyboardist of Sonata Arctica.

The project, which seemed to plummet, experienced a substantial recovery, and "The Fallen Empire" represents a turning point for Altaria, this time abandoning the characteristics of their fellow countrymen Stratovarius to create a musical figure more similar to Edguy's philosophy.
Here is a Heavy Metal that goes to draw from the 80s origins to take cues from bands like Accept and Helloween, but also from all Laiho's favorite bands like Wasp, Skid Row, Ratt, Queensryche, and others. The main subject taken is rock'n Heavy, and it is added the right dose of epic typical of power metal.
Among the titles, I recommend listening to the opening "Disciples", full of epicness and a good melodic chorus, then arriving at "Valley Of Rainbow" where Laiho gives his all, proving to be a voice to be taken more into account, the song seems to take many cues from Accept.
“Abyss Of Twilight” is a typical Altaria song from their origins, indicating a subconscious urge to propose the genre loved despite being hidden by various external influences. Excellent guitar solos and a very nice chorus. Also "Frozenhearts" is very beautiful and cadenced, mystical and melodic yet at the same time strong and expressive. "Crucifix" which draws heavily from Helloween, especially from the relationship between the drum rhythm and the appropriate voice.
"The Lion" is a typical melodic power song, full of choirs and loaded with warrior melody. Also, "Outlaw Blood" is very nice, alternating moments of power with a melancholic chorus inspired by "I Want Out" by Helloween.
Overall, it's not difficult to pick up on the falls and empty moments, but it's also not difficult to appreciate the work. Moral of the story: this album is just right, pretty, enjoyable, and to be listened to for fun, I, for example, listen to it while playing on the pc.