Living Tales is a Portuguese progressive & symphonic metal band. They have been around since 2007, the only member left from the start is Luis Oliveira guitars. They have always been female fronted, but different singers. And since I really like female fronted, I did have to go back in time, and listen to the others, and the music. The album Hades is a concept album, based upon characters from Greek mythology. I don't have the lyrics when I write this review, a concept album and not be able to follow the lyrics, is a minus.

But, in to the album. The first track . "Overture: Ischyros Genos", a short track, and works as an intro, when you listen to this Overture...you hear both darkness, tension and power. And fits perfect for "Rising" the second track. The bands sound more mature and a bit darker than before, Ana Isola are made for this kind of music, her voice is mighty, the range ...she goes from real dark, to high pitch so easy, and adapt so well. She, and the music, tells a story. "The Crusade" has more symphonic arrangement, but this track has also a fast pace, and is always fun to hear, a good singer, facing a new, musical background. But Ana handles the symphonic arrangement so well. She simply adds more distortion to the voice, gives it a rock vibe.

"Hades" is a bit more heavy and progressive track, very interesting, we have dialogs, and so much going on. Living Tales has good musicians, I don't know how long time it did take to do this album. But it's not made over a night. And I get some Symphony X vibes here. "River Styx" is a really progressive one, and build up a lot of tension. This track is wild, and has a bit good "madness" over it, takes twist and turns, that are ...not what you expect. And right now, my favorite track."Interlude Aidos" a short middle play, has something almost sad over it. "Labyrinth" is the most dark and heavy track so far, a bit ominous… I like it, some odd time signatures and, I guess, a pretty hard track to do. "Persephone" follows "Labyrinth". "Persephone" is also darker, more heavy. This album is good. Ana, has used, her voice in so many ways, whisper, talking, singing, and she has so much color in her voice, and control.

The musician's level is so high. You don't need to be a prog metal fan to listen to this. Sure, it's advanced, but on a level that makes it totally ok. "Redemption" takes us back to the start of the album, music sound a bit happier, or maybe relieved is the right word. The last track, on this journey, is "Prologue Kainos" and feels like a context of what's been, in the album. And maybe a new beginning, for what to come. I guess Tabula rasa is another word for it.