WITHIN SILENCE released their awaited album "Return From the Shadows" October 27 from Ulterium Records. The aspiring Slovakian power metal band formed in 2014 and gained notoriety with their first album, "Gallery of Life" in 2015. "Return From the Shadows" brings epic soundscapes, intriguing melodies, galloping drums, and impressive vocals in all of its power metal grandeur. Hints of European folk metal can be heard in the melodies at times as well.

"We are the Ones" is the strong opening track. This energetic song has interesting guitar melodies. "Heroes Must Return", the second track, caught my ear as something familiar. The song reminded me of QUEENSRYCHE in a great way. Martin's vocals are strong and full, and the guitar riffs in this song set it apart and for me made this a song I wanted to hear again. "Children of Light" is an uplifting song that starts out with a pretty piano melody and quickly ramps up with squealing electric guitars and galloping drumming. For me, the track was reminiscent of TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA in a way, with the guitar singing melodies unchained. "Calling From the Otherside" brings a refreshingly darker, heavier sound from Within Silence.

"In the Darkness" is nearly seventeen minutes in length. This song brings heavier riffing and choral singing, but I would have liked to have felt the low end hit me in the chest a little more during the heavier parts of the song. There are some seriously cool melodies brought by this band, and this song is not an exception. "The Final Victory" starts out with a valiant piano melody leading into more squealing guitar melodies and aggressive drumming. There is an epic sound to the song befitting the title. It is not difficult to image a battle of legendary proportions occurring with sword wielding warriors, and perhaps a scaled beast with furious eyes. The title track closes the album. The song is the second longest on the album, and has some IRON MAIDEN feels at the beginning with the intro, but quickly comes into its own WITHIN SILENCE power metal manifesto.Overall: 8