Look around the Internet for reviews of this band and they get some very favourable ones, with bands such as Royal Hunt and Stratovarios mentioned as comparisons. Their past line-ups have included future members of Nightwish and Sonata Arctica.

This nineteen track album is a 'best of' with two new songs featuring new vocalist Marco Luponero and seven demo versions of previously released songs.

I must admit I must be missing something others are hearing as although the songs are well produced and have crisp metal guitar riffs they just seem to wash over me. Only the bombast of 'Darkening Highlight' and one of the new songs 'Ball & Chain' keep me coming back for more listens.

If you like melodic metal give this compilation a go but personally I'll stick with Royal Hunt, Intense, Sonata Arctica et al.

**½

Review by Jason Ritchie

Fire And Ice
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