Coming out of the Czech Republic, there are so many cultural influences steaming through this release. SEBASTIEN play high energy heavy metal with loads of power metal riffing with huge choruses and big orchestrations filling the songs.

Album opens up all guns blazing with plenty of melody, yet still filled with a tidy amount of aggression. The album has layer upon layer, which gives it a very full sound that takes a few listens to be able to hear all the intricacies. George Rain, the singer, has the ability of switching between clean and dirty vocals with ease, using his full vocal range and strengths.

"Highland Romance" introduction is awesome showing some Scottish influence and the rest of the song is pretty damn cool too. From the first few songs, they have shown so many inspirations making me think of bands from TRIVIUM through to H.I.M.

"Frozen Nightingales" was another song that got my juices flowing with its power flowing though and stunning harmonies getting the blood flowing. These guys know how to craft great songs using all their instruments to their fullest, making this more than a heavy guitar album but full of plenty of flavour and colour.

These guys are master storytellers with the track "The Ocean" showcasing this, making you feel as though you standing on some cliffs staring out at the sea, wind blowing through your hair, salt air flowing into your lungs, leaving you feeling the full experience.

"The House of Medusa" is another example of their skill in utilising melody for great effect, making these songs that stick inside your head.

There are so many great songs on here that it needs plenty of listens just to take it all in; the final song for the standard release, "Last Dance at Rosslyn Chapel", is the closest you will get to a slow ballad and ends the album on a nice subtle note.

The inclusion of their live version of "Headless cross" from BLACK SABBATH, with Tony Martin lending guest vocals, is a great bonus and a killer version. This and another track, "Dorian", are included in the limited first release, which is well worth getting hold of.

This is an album that is getting heavy rotation in my house.<