Lana Lane is a symphonic Rock band from the USA bearing the name of its singer/keyboardist. Lady Macbeth comes out the same year as Lana Lane's tenth anniversary and lives up to standards.
The history of Lana Lane's band begins when she and Erik Norlander (her husband and producer) met. Lana Lane released Love Is An Illusion in 1995 and attracted the attention of a record company named Marquee Belle Antique. Her second album, Curious Goods, was released in 1996 by that company. Marquee Belle Antique soon started a new label named Avalon, which was to release her next album, Garden Of The Moon (1998). That same year she released Echoes From the Garden, Live In Japan, Love Is An Illusion 1998 Version and Ballad Collection. 1999 was to be a slightly less busy year for Lana Lane where she only released three cds, Queen Of The Ocean, Echoes From The Ocean and The Best of Lana Lane 1994 - 1999. The following year three more cds were released, Secrets Of Astrology, Ballad Collection II and Ballad Collection Special Edition. 2001 saw two more CDs come out, Lana Lane and Erik Norlander European Tour 2001 Souvenir CD and Love Is An Illusion (Special Edition). In 2002 she released several more CDs, Project Shangri-La, Curious Goods 2002 Version, Curious Goods Special Edition and Covers Collection. 2003 was a slightly less busy year for Lana Lane again, seeing only the release of Lana Lane and Erik  Norlander European Tour 2003 Souvenir CD and Winter Sessions but was followed by another busy one. In 2004 Lana Lane - Return to Japan came out. Erik Norlander came out with an album containing songs from several of his previous releases that year named Stars Rain Down, on which Lana Lane sang several of the songs. Her first dvd Storybook: Tales From Europe And Japan also came out 2004 and that brings us to 2005 and Lady Macbeth.
Lana Lane's music has an airy, dream-like quality to it. It has a wide range of heaviness, anything from softer end Hard Rock to pretty Heavy/Prog Metal. The piano work and lead guitar is eye catching and sweet. The rhythm guitar on Lady Macbeth isn't very crunchy, instead electing to fly like an evil bird. Lana Lane uses some interesting musical effects and achieves anything from a cool horn-like sound to 80's-esque keyboards. Lana herself has a sweet, strong voice which is kind of unnerving on the more evil songs. The other musicians also do an admirable job but these three are the best. The fact that it is a concept album doesn't hurt it either, as I am a bit addicted to them.
All of the songs are good but Summon The Devil doesn't fit in with the rest. It has too much 70's vibe to it. The Dream Never Ends is a heart-piercing track which is a great introduction to Lana's sound on this release. It has an ethereal and dynamic sound. Keeper Of The Flame is a heavy, driven song with an urgent chorus and cool lead-work. We Had The World has  beautiful, slightly bluesy guitar-work and lovely but sad keyboards. Lana's sweet, meleancholy voice hits the sad button on this song and holds it down. We Had The World is my favorite track off of Lady Macbeth.
Lady Macbeth is at its best during the sad songs and offers excellent guitar-work and keyboards. It mostly stays on the softer side of my taste but does get rather heavy. I recommend it to fans of the softer side of Progressive Metal and fans of symphonic Rock.