FAIRYLAND is back with their 5th album ''The Story Remains'' and it took much longer than it was supposed to unfortunately because of a tragedy within the band. Philippe Giordana, the band's keyboardist and main composer, died on October 21, 2022 and it left a void yet he recorded so much stuff for the band that they took what he did and transformed to this new opus. On March 6, 2023, Archie Caine was announced as the band's new lead singer and the recording of the 5th album was underway in 2023 yet it took until mid 2025 to get it out there to the masses. A relative unknown but he was the winner of the worldwide contest to become the new singer of the band about two years ago.

The French Symphonic Power Metal Powerhouse band has been a starting point for many fans of the genre and are extremely and highly regarded by fans all over the world. I am part of several Facebook Groups about Power Metal and Symphonic Metal and I see posts about them at least 2-3 times a week, even more. I was really wondering what all the fuss was about so I am beyond grateful to have the opportunity to review this album, this new era of band going forward. I have to add that even though Philippe Giordana left some unreleased demos and whatnot, the band worked really hard to be able to put pen to paper and make it a whole album. It was not an easy process yet it was a way to grieve as a band and make their founder proud to continue his legacy through his music and ideas.

The first single off of this new opus, ''To Stars and Beyond'' is the perfect example of something extremely grandiose, very powerful, it feels quite cinematic. It's exactly what you are looking for in any Symphonic Metal band. Those bands place a large focus on elements prevalent in film scores in addition to the more basic classical components utilized more widely in the genre. Many people who participate in this genre of metal music have a degree in musical thought. The style features the heavy drums and guitars of metal with different elements of orchestral classical music, such as symphonic instruments, choirs and sometimes a full orchestra, or just keyboard orchestration. It may not have a full orchestra but it definitely feels that way.

I was glad to see the presence of Elisa C. Martin, their former singer at the beginning of their career and also the incredible siren in DARK MOOR, a much unheralded band in Power Metal, a band that influenced a generation of Power Metal bands in Europe and beyond. She adds so much presence in ''Suffering Ages'' , the duality was a great respite for several reasons and it's a blast from the past and also a way to honor part of their heritage. Well let's talk about the elephant in the room, Archie Caine. I feel in all honesty and after listening to the album more than once that is mediocre at best. Look, his cadence is off and it feels like there is some distance between him and the band.

The music is majestic, powerful but I feel his presence doesn't feel right, sometimes it doesn't fit the mood of the song and his constant way of singing fast then slow, it feels not at all natural especially on ''Unity''. His style just does not gel with the rest of the band, I would have enjoyed more homogeny and trying to like the songs, well it's not my style. In this case, he doesn't fit well with his tone of voice and the way he delivers the lyrics, it feels robotic at times or rushed. As much as the music is incredible, he brings in down a notch and it gets on the nerves rather quickly. A new opus that celebrates the life and legacy of their founder, yet it feels like a big drop off from what they have given to the genre for the last 25 years or so.