From the city of Rome, Italy, hails a Power Metal band called KALEDON and it was formed in the year 1998 by guitarist and mastermind Alex Mele. After exiting the band, RIVER OF CHANGE, he started the band with the aim to play Classic Heavy Metal influenced by the likes of JUDAS PRIEST and IRON MAIDEN. The name of the band comes from the fantasy realm of Kaledon from a fantasy story that he wrote. The band went through a slew of line-up changes before this stable incarnation. They have been quite prolific in releasing new material and have 9 full length studio albums before the current album. The band has also worked on two tribute albums for the bands MANOWAR and STRATOVARIUS. They are also active on the touring circuit having shared the stage with Ronnie James Dio and bands like ANVIL, DESTRUCTION, and TANKARD among others.

The 10-track album begins with a bit of a short instrumental melody called "Tenebrae Venture Sunt" and it is an epic piece that tries to set up the tone of the album to come. However, the next track, "The Beginning of the Night", has a bay area thrash riff at its beginning before Symphonic Power Metal vocals jump into the fray, complete with operatic backing vocals and ominous keyboard sounds. Searing guitar solos jostle for space with furious keyboard bits and the 5-minute song ends exactly the way the next song begins. "The Evil Witch" has a bit of cackling at the start before a BLIND GUARDIAN-esque riff takes the song forward. "Dark Reality" has a slow heavy beginning and the ominous keyboard sounds are heard in the background, much like the Scandinavians play their brand of Symphonic Metal. The song has one of the best leads of the album and is complimented ably by skillful keyboard work. "Telepathic Messages" has a purposely under produced riff in the beginning and operatic singing take the track forward. Closer to the 2 minute mark; the vocals become a growl, not unlike the New Metal bands that are abundant everywhere. The track, "The End of the Undead", rounds up the album and it is the longest song on the record. The song scampers along in a brisk pace filled with heroic choruses and excellent drumming.

The album has everything that a diehard Symphonic Metal fan might enjoy. The songs have tight melodies and exceptional musicianship, as well as a storyline that has a medieval plot to it. This concept album also boasts of some serious Old School riffs that will enthrall fans of Thrash as well as IRON MAIDEN fans. The songs are well written and the melodies are excellent. The question is, does this band break new grounds in terms of creativity or music wise, and the answer is not really. Like most Symphonic bands out there, the skills that these guys have for their instruments are unparalleled. However, this album is for fans of the Symphonic kind who no doubt hang around medieval fairs re-enacting scenes of wars from folklore.<