Progressive Metal has always had pockets of countries around the globe that find favor to the challenging structures, incredible musicianship, and high quality performances through the years. I've found that Greece is one of those major supporters - and here we have one of their domestic groups in the quintet LIGHTFOLD. Forming in 2012, they've shifted a few members in their brief time together - releasing their debut album "Time to Believe" fairly quickly when other acts would probably start on an EP to build their careers.

The 9 song record keeps the arrangements flowing at a fair clip - the average song clocking in around the 5:30 mark so as to get the ideas across, allow for some instrumental flair, and then moving forward to the next track. In general LIGHTFOLD has a lot of straightforward heavy metal aspects incorporated into their sound - the rhythm section very much about locking into solid grooves a la SAXON or DOKKEN - whereas the keyboards and guitars may portray more of the technicality necessary to be Progressive.

FATES WARNING and THRESHOLD come up when I hear a lot of the shape shifting music and smoother melodies for "Woman in Disguise" or the more mystical marching "Kingdoms Fall". As great as I think the band can be musically, a couple of clear warning flags need to come out for full recommendation. The production is barely above demo quality - as I feel like the guitar tone is distant and the drumming very synthetic without much power in the toms or bass drums. Secondly, vocalist Theodor Martinis has more of a dramatic voice that can sometimes be awkward in higher reaches - bringing up THRESHOLD or SAGA comparisons minus the versatility those singer present throughout their discography.

Maybe these aspects will strengthen as the band gets more time together to write, rehearse, and perform. For now, "Time to Believe" doesn't accurately represent what I would expect live from LIGHTFOLD - thus it doesn't earn a full recommendation.