Oh, no — not another power-metal concept-album sequel, populated with heroes, villains, an overzealous rhythm section and a lead singer who thinks he's a born warrior! Hold your horses, King Cynic. Granted, the Italian band's wordy new CD, New Era Pt. 2-War of the Gods — which follows 2005's New Era Pt. 1 — chronicles the violent events in a mythological fortress called Derdian, and you'll need to set aside a good chunk of your day to read the entire story on the band's web site. But Derdian is less dramatic than Rhapsody and more melodic than (and nowhere near as speedy as) Dragonforce. The band boasts a distinct progressive-symphonic sound, unadorned by a heavy vocal accent. In fact, unlike other singers in the genre, Joe Caggianelli has a powerful voice that would suit a hard-rock bar band just as effortlessly as it propels New Era's narration. All this is not to say that the album will convert fantasy-metal detractors, but Derdian does veer a little from the norm. And in this genre these days, that's all we can ask.
Track Listing:
1) Overture
2) New Era
3) Betrayer
4) I Don't Wanna Die
5) Golstar's Rage
6) Why
7) Back to the Crystal
8) Immortal's Lair
9) The Hunter
10) Before the War
11) War of the Gods
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