This is the third album from this Italian power metal band. Secret Sphere play in a similar territory to Rhapsody, Hammer Fall, Manowar et al but this band up the keyboards and feature some truly amazing choral work. In fact it takes a few plays to get into the album as first listen you think ‘oh no, not another fast paced power metal album!’

Opener ‘Rain’ features the trademarks of power metal - fast drums & keys with gloriously OTT guitar solos, complete with a high pitched vocalist. There is some very nifty piano playing on this track as well. ‘More Than Simple Emotions’ features female vocals and sounds like Paradise Lost meets Sisters Of Mercy - nice! ‘Surrounding’ utilises choir effects and the latter part of the song veers into AOR territory. That’s the beauty of this album in that it throws plenty of musical changes at you. Ballad time, with ‘Scent Of A Woman’ which again features a very talented female vocalist and it trundles along at a steady pace. ‘Life Parts 1 & 2’ start gently, with acoustic guitar and mellow vocals before building into a heavy ending. Keep playing the last track as it has the ‘hidden’ music of someone playing what sounds like a Bontempi organ and lots of manic laughter. I guess you had to be there!

Well worth the effort, a definate ‘grower’ of an album. Very skilfully played throughout and the choral arrangements are something else! The genre of power/symphonic metal continues to produce top rate releases like this one.

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Review by Jason Ritchie