This is the second full-length release by the Canadian-American Power Metal band from Tucson, Arizona. Things have been tumultuous at best for this band because some of their founding members left after the first album. The lead singer Zoe Marie Federoff is the only remaining band member that recorded on their debut album. It wasn't the end of the band but just another chapter that begun. The second album is called ''Phoenix Aflame'', it's crystal clear that this is not just an album title, but something even more powerful than that. They feel reborn like a phoenix that rises from it's ashes. The energy is overflowing and there is quite a progression since their first album. They definitely feel rejuvenated as well.

The album cover art is fantastic. It's very reminiscent of ancient Greece with the Icarus in full force. I have to admit that Power Metal bands do have a lot of awesome album covers and it's very fantasy driven but still some really pieces of art. The production is very, very good, they did a fantastic job and every instrument sounds like a ton of bricks. I see that they took their time mastering and producing the album and it sounds so good. No small detail was ignored and I was blown away but the wall of sound of this album. There seems to be more keyboards on this album than the previous one. I felt also that the song writing was more mature and the songs has some very strong melodies. Zoe definitely pushes herself even more and displays some amazing skills. She has taken her voice to another level and being taught by one of the students of Floor Jansen definitely did her some good. There is no more holding back, I don't know if the other members of the band on the first album were blocking her full potential. That wouldn't be the first time it happens but we don't know what happened in the band during the first album and afterwards and it's pretty much not our business.

But anyways, Zoe really shines on this album. I loved her full range of emotion of ''Not My God'', her duet with Apollo Papathanasio (former singer of FIREWIND and current singer of SPIRITUAL BEGGARS.) I was saying to myself, wait a minute, I know that voice and it just didn't come to me. After a few minutes of Googling (is that really a word?), I found out it was Apollo that was singing on this amazing song. Apollo is one of the most underrated singers out there and I saw FIREWIND about four years ago and he blew me away with his talent and overall charisma at that show. I think her best vocal performance might be on the really sweet ''Velvet Road''. Quite a departure from most of the album that is pure Power Metal, this resembled a bit more in the lines of bands like TYR or LION SHEPHERD. A very Folk Metal-esque driven song, it has a lot of Acoustic Guitars and it's a smart and simple song. It's so enjoyable and even if it's not in the vein of the rest of the album, Zoe does an incredible job and it's a great mix of power mixed with genuine emotion.

Kaelen Sarakinis does an amazing job on this album as well but his finest hour is definitely the incredible Guitar Solo on the title track ''Phoenix Aflame''. He just lets loose and I could really hear some Guitar licks from various awesome guitarists like Dimebag Darrell and Zakk Wylde. He is really channeling these musicians on this one and just doesn't pull any punches. I discovered European Power Metal in the mid to late nineties and it took me a whole lot of years to really enjoy the music. Maybe I wasn't prepared mentally to that style of music and maybe I wasn't musically open at that age. Sometimes it takes me a long time to really love something but that's something that happens. I didn't really hear about the American Power Metal Scene until the mid to late 2000's. I was impressed with the various differences between both continents and I was pleasantly surprised with the Americans were doing. This band is no different, really solid production, tight instruments and an amazing singer. So much potential and I really believe they will make a mark on the style in the next coming years.