"The White Goddess" is the second full length album from German Epic Metallers ATLANTEAN KODEX, and if you're heading to war, this is what you should be listening to - your blood will be pumping, and you'll be ready for anything.

This whole album is telling a story, and every song is a chapter within the telling. There's a reason this band is described as Epic Metal - their music, their lyrics, the atmosphere - everything is, well, epic. We've got snippets of spoken word from speeches etc., overlying the music, and weather effects. It doesn't feel intrusive - rather the opposite. It's so well done, that you're not sat there completely jarred out of the listening experience (the music still takes center stage, of course), but it just adds to the whole atmosphere of the album - creating an experience for the listener that you don't usually get with music. They're not just technically epic either - apart from the tracks that are really nothing more than segues to the next song - the shortest track "Twelve Stars And An Azure Gown" is just shy of eight minutes long. It doesn't feel long though, it doesn't feel like a drag when you're listening to it. There's that much going on here, that whilst you certainly don't feel overwhelmed, you definitely don't get bored either. Of course there's quieter bits, and these are just as effective as the more complex parts of the songs.

The transitions between songs is smooth and flawless - it's not start and stop which helps maintain the atmosphere, so you've got a full 55 minutes of epic, without any real periods of silence. This is of course helped by the fact that the musicians involved are very talented. The guitars and drums stomp all over this release, enhancing that fantastic atmosphere even more. The vocals are excellent, soaring through a pretty wide range, and complementing the other instruments perfectly, Becker sings every word and every note with an intensity that lets you feel what he is feeling. And of course, it wouldn't be Epic Metal without a grand finale, and "White Goddess Unveiled" running for 11 minutes 22 seconds certainly fits the bill. For most of it, it's business as usual rocking your socks off, but we get a nice little piano section at the end. And let's be honest, you'll need to get your heartbeat down somehow.

All in all, an excellent album, and one to get you pumped up and full of confidence for whatever you might face. It's the full package, and a fantastic outing from ATLANTEAN KODEX.