Combining the best elements from the height of Symphonic Metal - NIGHTWISH's "Wishmaster" and Austrian Symphonic Metal band VISIONS OF ATLANTIS came to mind when I gave this album a listen - DEEEP SUN's "Das Erbe der Welt" (Heritage of the World) is a powerful, melodic ride containing electronic ambiance and symphonic elements that transport you to another world and time. This is the third release from the Swiss symphonic band, and it's a powerhouse of rich concepts and storytelling.

The electronic ambiance on songs like "Relentless Resistance" and "Worship the Warship" was a welcome addition to the album and gave the songs a more contemporary touch without being too overpowering. "Relentless Resistance" is the opener and starts the album off with a bang.

My one complaint is that the opera can sound forced in some parts of the album (first verse of "Heroes" comes to mind). Throughout most of it, the vocals are stunning and smooth, and the lead singer, Debora Lavagnolo has great range and control of her voice. She also wrote most of the lyrics, and with her bandmates, created a well-balanced album with strong concepts and the atmosphere to match.

Their ballad title track "Das Erbe der Welt", made me wish for more interludes or slower spacesto breathe on the album as a whole, but as I covered in another review, we've moved past the era of listening to an album and are into picking up tracks on Spotify playlists, so it's a moot point. It's still a nice anthemic song that picks up nicely throughout the song.

The mood was strongest on tracks like "Abandon Cyberspace" and "Vertigo" (my favorite track on the album). The former was fast when it needed to be and re-created the concept of leaving a fast-paced world where there is so little time to think, you can't question the simulacrum of the digital world. Aptly named, the latter gave a feeling of disorientation with different movements and pace changes that worked incredibly well. The heavy-hitting track "My Darkness" carried gothic elements and the final track, "The Raven", was an eerie ballad where the range of their instrumentation came out full-force.

While the band reminded me of the music I listened to in high school, it's fresh and unique enough to stand on its own. I'd listen to this album at the gym (it's fast and upbeat enough for running or a good workout) or if I want to get pumped.