STORMLORD is a band that has been on my radar since 2006, and I have always admired what I have heard from them. Although they're a band that you've likely heard before, they're a band that have done pretty well for themselves since their beginnings. They're also a band that has worked really hard on their production over the years, refining their sound and showing a growing maturity. All of this is demonstrated with this release, "Far".

"Far" is the perfect ode to good production work and taking the necessary time to create an album that will please both their fans and the critics. This release saw the Italian band take six years to create and hone an album that is full of exceptionally strong material and great execution. The bass lines are strong and memorable, and paired with the drums create a wall of strength. I love the vocals which create an ambiance of anger and rage. Of course, it's all topped of by the amazing usage of orchestration, which obviously STORMLORD have utilized effectively since their very first album.

"Leviathan" is an excellent choice to open the album. Strong and direct to it's core. It's a song that I think most listeners will love immediately, which just confirms its placement in opening the album and as the first single.  "Invictus" is another strong highlight and is catchy as hell. It goes deep into my taste of melodic metal, as does the closing track "Levante" which is another strong composition. "Far" has easily made it into my favorite albums.

STORMLORD is one of those bands that is hard to understand why more people don't know about them. Perhaps it has something to do with the amount of time between their releases. Regardless, they're a band that I wish everyone knew about. I fondly remember many of my high school days listening to "Xanadu" on my disc man,  and always being fascinated by the bands use of history and literature.