The name AWAKEN might be a little confusing since there are several bands out there bearing it. The band I'll be talking about in this review is the Progressive Metal band from US, formed in 2009, and this is their debut album. Hence, I guess you are altogether unfamiliar with their music.

In fact, the sound is very mature for a debut album by a newcomer-band. The riffs are solid and catchy, the solos are awesome and the vocals are excellent. I can say that the highlight of the whole thing is indeed Glenn DaGrossa's vocals. The Bruce Dickinson influence is very prominent.

This release is very good as a whole. However, it has highs and lows. "Mourning Heroes", "Beneath The Surface", for instance, are very interesting. "My Silent Breath" is a mellow ballad with additional orchestral and keyboard harmonies, whereas "Awaken" is totally worth being the title track. In this song you'll be definitely hearing SYMPHONY X. I think it made up for the weakness of its preceding tracks. "The Inquisitor" is another SYMPHONY X / DREAM THEATER song, and it is probably my personal favorite, for the moment.

What I liked about this album is that the last tracks are much more powerful than the first ones, so I strongly recommend you bear with the first boring half of the album because the latter half is totally worth listening to.

In the end, I shall say it's such a decent release and it will find its way easily to your music player if you're a Progressive Metal guru.