Let's explain things in a plain and clear way: if the bands, labels or press agencies don't send a release, pics and covers for the albums they want to be reviewed, it'll cost a precious amount of time to write, And personally, when I have to write something that I must keep looking for info on internet (instead of provided by those who ask for the reviews), I do not have any responsibility about the info (and do not complain about corrections). Got it? So, then is time to speak about STONEFIELD's "Mystic Stories".

This album is a new release of the 1988 EP "The Eyes of the Dawn" and 1990 album "Light of Lies". To the old days, their music sounds as a Heavy/Prog Metal release, in the same vein of earlier names of the genre as FATES WARNING and QUEENSRYCHE. It's heavy, melodic and elegant (due the very good keyboards' parts), but not as technically intricate as many modern fans love. So, these words mean that their music is rich in melodies, but so easy to be understood. The sound production is old fashioned, as old releases are (again: both releases are from the end of the 80's). But the songs were remastered, "Mystic Stories" sounds heavy, somewhat raw (due the original recording sessions), and clean enough to be clearly understood by the listeners.

The 8 songs of the album are very good, and it's a pity that the quintet doesn't exist anymore. But the testimony given by songs as "Falling Lies" (very good Progressive/AOR ambiance created by the keyboards, and vocals and backing vocals are really good), "Spirits" (a dramatic atmosphere permeates the melodies, and very good guitar parts can be heard), "Darkness of Paradise" (a more Classic Rock approach in the vein of DEEP PURPLE and URIAH HEEP can be heard on it), "Chalice of Your Mind" (a heavier and aggressive song, in a way that surely can remind a bit the ambiances heard "Operation: Mindcrime"), and "The Eyes of the Dawn" (a long and bitter set of rhythmic changes can be heard on it, with a strong work done by bass guitar and drums) is enough to say that the band deserved better luck.

"Mystic Stories" isn't nothing more than a witness that Switzerland gave birth to a very good band. And in a time when names from the past are coming back from the ashes of the time, maybe STONEFIELD deserve another chance.