Wuthering Heights
The Shadow Cabinet

I didn't even know this band. The album was given to me by a friend who listens to power metal non-stop.

My first impression was actually "ugh!"... I couldn't digest yet another power album, but he was very keen for me to listen to it.

Well, Wuthering Heights hail from the Netherlands and their style strongly reminds me of the Astral Doors, one of the few bands in the power metal scene that still manages to impress me quite a lot. I'll never forget "Evil Is Forever" by the aforementioned Astral Doors, but that's another story.

Speaking of "The Shadow Cabinet", as mentioned, it closely resembles the AD style. Indeed, I'd say they emulate it entirely, if it weren't for some truly original solutions that make their music exceptionally innovative and never dull, such as some folk inserts and certain sudden accelerations and tempo changes, which give the songs the extra edge that can make a difference in an album.

And when I say there are similarities with Astral Doors, I'm not mistaken because, looking at the booklet, I notice that the band enlists the help, behind the microphones (now I remember where I'd heard that voice before) of Nils Patrik Johansson (ex Astral Doors) who manages to give that magical touch to the vocals.

Finally, a singer who sings and doesn't howl or, even worse, belt out high notes worthy of the best eunuchs.

From a songwriting perspective, the songs differ greatly from one another: there are the angry ones (the opener), there are those where it's delightful to hear the tempo changes and the guitar and drum accelerations ("Carpe Nctum"), there's the ballad, truly enjoyable (the closing "Midnight Song") and there's the folk. Folk that doesn't disgust with its omnipresence but is pleasant to hear in some interesting interludes and bridges that the band has managed to craft well.

Everything comes together with a production that's up to par (well, after all, it's their fourth studio album!) that manages to keep the listener from getting bored. Tracks like "Sleep" leave the listener with their jaw dropped. Listen to believe.

I will only add to give a chance to this band that has made originality its trademark. And, coming from someone who's had more than enough of power metal, that's saying something.

After the disappointment marked Dragonforce, I'm taking back all my curses against power with this good "The Shadow Cabinet".

Spectacular.