As a huge fan of Symphonic influenced Metal bands, I was very pleased to discover ASYLUM PYRE. Immediately you get the comparisons to NIGHTWISH, LACUNA COIL, and AFTER FOREVER. ASYLUM PYRE is so much more though. The singing of Chaos Heidi takes "Fifty Years Later" to another level.

Tracks like "Dead In Copenhagen", "These Trees", and "Just Before The Silence" have dynamics not heard in any of the previously mentioned bands music. The tunes combine sweeping vocals with amazing guitar playing. What really stands out on "Fifty Years Later" though is the production. Bruno Gruel at Elektra Mastering has done a brilliant job with this. The sound is huge, crisp, and has all the right high and low ends. Hands down one of the best produced CD's I've heard this past year.

If you're a fan of music in this genre, this is a must have for your collection. If you're not, this might be the CD that changes your mind. This is a masterful set of tunes that really showcase the band in a great way.