It's not easy keeping track of what's going on in many bands due to the amount that are experiencing line-up changes. Serenity is another, the addition of female vocalist Clementine Delauney to Serenity's line-up was a great move, it really added to Serenity's last album having her along with vocalist and Serenity's driving force Georg Neuhauser. But when it seemed like they were on a winner the news broke that Clementine was no longer part of their line-up as the band decided a change in direction was in order. Which is very disappointing as I would have liked to hear her vocals on the new album Codex Atlanticus though there are guest female vocalists. But this wasn't to be the only change with the major departure of an original and key member in Thomas Buchberger(composer and lead guitarist), so Serenity had to find a new guitarist and Chris Hermsdorfer was their choice. There hasn't been a radical change in Serenity's symphonic metal sound not that it was needed.
History is still is a major influence as the Austrian melodic symphonic metal band is heading back in time again, this time with the life of Leonardo Da Vinci providing the inspiration for Codex Atlanticus. Serenity may not be the most prominent metal act of their kind which certainly isn't due to a lack of quality material, and you don't have to look hard through their albums to find just that. Serenity's fifth album is quite a catchy album the band has recorded songs that are not short of hooks with a fitting balance of orchestral input. There are added male vocals on the album though the most appealing are those of Georg Neuhauser like on "Follow Me". "Sprouts of Terror" has its share of heaviness from the rapid start, and the epic symphonic metal of "Iniquity" is very alluring. "Caught In Myth" and "Fate Of Light" are two of Codex Atlanticus highlights, and are also ones for fans of the symphonic groups Kamelot, Nightwish and the like. Overall while I don't feel that Codex Atlanticus is the strongest album that Serenity have released there are tracks that would certainly be included on a "best of" release. So if you found appeal in their prior albums then there's little doubt that the majority of songs on Codex Atlanticus will have the same positive outcome.
Track Listing
1. Codex Atlanticus
2. Follow Me
3. Sprouts of Terror
4. Iniquity
5. Reason
6. My Final Chapter
7. Caught in a Myth
8. Fate of Light
9. The Perfect Woman
10. Spirit in the Flesh
11. The Order
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