Ever since the first Metal bands from Ukraine came to be heard, we learned an important lesson: bands from that country are ready to alter the rules of everything that you know in terms of Metal's musical features.

So, whilst hearing a band like SCARLETH may not be particularly life altering for those used to Ukrainian Metal, to those who aren't, we can say that listening their second album "The Silver Lining" shall be a very good experience.

SCARLETH offer a mix of melodic Symphonic Metal with some elements of Gothic Metal whilst using clean female vocals and some extreme grunts; along with very good guitar playing, fine orchestrations from the two keyboardists, and good, technical work from the rhythm section. Their music is melodic and has excellent technical moments; all whilst maintaining a heavy weight and clutching our attention. Yes, it's incredibly good!

The record was recorded at Morton Studio, in Kiev, and produced by Victor Morozov (the band's guitarist), with the mixing and mastering done by Max Morton. The quality of the sound is very, very good. It's clean and heavy, balancing these aspects in an almost perfect way. Of course it could be better, but it's already very good at the level it is.

I must say that "The Silver Lining" is an excellent album, with great moments and songs composed in a careful yet spontaneous way.

The album's finest moments are: "Night of Lies", with its excellent guitars and great keyboard arrangements (along with some catchy tempo changes); the bittersweet aggressiveness that is presented by "Double Memory" with its fine bass guitar and drum work; the ethnic melodies on "The Gates of Dark Sun" (filled with touches of middle eastern melodicism, and excellent clean vocals); the excellent vocals presented on the technical "Voices" (the harmonies are really lovely); the melodic energy of the voices on "Before the Night Falls" (where keyboards and bass guitars are also showing a some technique on the introspective moments); and the beautiful guitars and drum arrangements on "Last Hope".

These guys are incredible, and I can only hope that their third album will be as excellent as "The Silver Lining".