Ahem... Since it is my first review for.... let me see... (can't count that many months I have only 10 fingers), I think that I should start with something fairly new and quite refreshing.

And yes, here is the part where Wuthering Heights, formed in the early nineties and with two albums already released, come in. Far From the Madding Crowd is their third release, produced by Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Pretty Maids etc.) and with a lot to tell to power metal fans everywhere.

For starters their sound holds true to the spirit of many widely known bands (Blind Guardian, Symphony X, Angra) and still it is QUITE unique. What I mean by unique is that the genre is the same. This is the part where the similarities end since their album is full of lighting fast, melodic riffs and solos exceptionally performed. The voice of Nils Patrik Johansson is a wonder to listen to, since it can mingle into and transform the songs according to the music. Put into the equation the addition of some not so often heard instruments (bagpipes in Gather Ye Wild and a flute and banjo in Longing For The Woods - Part I: The Wild Children) and you have a great album to listen to. Very tight, composing of melodies flawlessly delivered and did I mention the voice?
Walking through the album now I must admit that Gather Ye Wild along with The Road Goes Ever On are great openers for the album. Both these songs present the full capacity of the band followed by Tree. Longing For The Woods is in total over 20 minutes and quite expeptional throughout. It makes a pass through mediavel, classic, folklore and orchestral music and my proposal is to listen to the three parts one after the other. A fact that needs to be stated is that their music seems to derive it's thematology from the ever present J.R.R Tolkien as per Bad Hobbits Die Hard but they seem to have been influenced from the music of western movies at times. What is strange is that this does not add badly to their music. Land Of Olden Glory gallops along the lines of Domine and Rhapsody playing styles. The album closes up with Lament For Lorien a fully orchestral song with a calmness that in fact reminds of a lamentation.
All told, Wuthering Heights have created a great album once more. All Power Metallers do not let this chance get away. This is a great album.