Axenstar is one of those acts that simply recycle all the cliches in melodic power metal that has led the genre to stagnancy. However they are also one of those acts doing it in a discreet and delicate way, like they're trying to say "OK we know we are yesterday news but we like it. What's you problem? With their third release they don't seem to change their "punch-line a lot.
Axenstar started as cover band under the moniker Powerage. With this name they released a couple of demos and a cover to the all time classic "Hallowed Be Thy Name from Iron Maiden. Before the contract with Arise Records they swapped to Axenstar and this is pretty much their story so far. Their two previous albums where filled with melodic power metal, honestly ranking just above average. Their third album is a bit better but still not something extra ordinary.
"The Inquisition contains some good songs like "Under Black Wings or the really catchy "Daydreamer. I spotted two positive marks in their music. First of all, their vocalist Magnus Winterwild (is this his real surname?) brings in mind Tony Kako (Sonata Arctica). This means he sounds more like a pop singer rather than a metal singer. I also considered a positive sign that the albums duration is below 40 minutes. The album has a very good production (Underground Studios) also adding points to the whole outcome. Still the whole package in "another time around in the over-populated field of melodic power metal. At least Axenstar are not annoyingly fast like so many others. I have heard pretty much all their ideas "somewhere else (and I am not implying that they are copying other bands).
Its simple actually, if you going to like melodic power metal you have to accept that there's probably nothing new to hear in this genre. If you can accept this then you won't have a problem. However if you are one of those persons desperately searching for a fresh breath in the genre... you aren't going to find it here.