ECHOSOUL is a 4-piece Progressive Power Metal band from Fort Wayne, Indiana. This is their second full-length album and first since 2020's ''The End of Darkness''. When I first listened to their first single, ''Sister Suicide'', the voice of the singer was really familiar and when I googled Rob Lundgren, much to my surprise he is also the lead singer of MENTALIST, a band I actually reviewed and highly enjoyed a few months ago. So I am really looking forward to listen the rest of the album because it was a killer first single, really reminiscent of the best years of ICED EARTH with Matt Barlow that's for sure. ''Path of the Righteous'' also is very ICED EARTH-esque and I do not consider this as a bad thing. You do also have some Progressive Metal elements akin to FATES WARNING thrown in for good measure. The solos are very reminiscent to Jim Matheos' stellar work with FATES WARNING so I guess you have the best of both worlds, you have the elements of American Power Metal with the technical wizardry of American Progressive Metal. I love long songs than don't feel like they are that long and keeps the listener entertained and they managed to do a great job on this one.

It's funny, well in a sense, that on their debut release you had Tim ''The Ripper'' Owens as a guest vocalist, formerly of JUDAS PRIEST and the aforementioned ICED EARTH and I think it really shaped their sound a bit more on this sophomore release. The first album did seem more straightforward but this time I think they have found their sound. I have been listening to their first album after listening to their new release and you can sense the band has become whole and the direction seems clear in their path. The production is better, the band seems tighter than ever and focused. Rob Lundgren's baritone, almost operatic vocal technique not only was a technical improvement over past singers, but also helped texturize the music, giving it a more solemn and somber feel. This is also helped by Guy Hinton's more aggressive songwriting. His IRON MAIDEN-inspired galloping riffing sounds meatier and meaner, as if he's releasing all of the frustration he had inside of him. This is easily of the best albums of the year, both from a musical and a lyrical standpoint.

What ''Time of the Dragon'' puts out is a melodic, yet dark and infernal series of songs that show off the musicians at the best of their abilities and with the highest regard for creating compositions that flow well and feel grand. Every song features strong melody and an impassioned vocal delivery, with just the right balance of catchiness and grandiosity. It exudes a dark and aggressive sound that many bands had not bothered with before, and does so in a way that exceeds expectations when it comes to creating massive songs. Every member gives it their all, and Rob Lundgren especially gives ''Time of the Dragon'' a mighty and explosive voice with a range that makes him ideal for all moods the music tries to set, from rage, to might, to sadness, and terror, Lundgren does them all with gusto.

It's a solid contender for album of the year, bar none!