Label: Metalville 2014
Review by: Urban "Wally" Wallstrom
I'll have to say that the epic nine plus minute track, "Die Alone", one of Astral Door's better moments as they dabble with the progressive arrangement and Black Sabbath influences. Not to mention that Patrick Johansson is indeed the impressive vocalist with just the right amount of power and finesse. On the other hand, "Notes From The Shadows", overall the disappointment in my opinion.
It really doesn't matter how great the band members are, when the songs are starting to wear and tear on your mind and memory. Surely I've already heard the majority of the Notes From The Shadows melodies in their vast back catalogue? I believe it's the Status Quo and AC/DC endgame at play here? Same, same, but hardly ever different? It feels like a half-hearted attempt at your Astral Doors album and several pieces of the jig-saw puzzle are sadly missing.
Obviously still appealing to many of their fans as they would rather have the trusty old rather than something experiential and new. I couldn't find many songs that stand out from the rest, the above mentioned epic tune excluded. "The Last Temptation Of Christ" and "Disciples Of The Dragon Lord" are interesting tracks, lyric-wise, but might just lack the extra oomph and energy of their forceful melodic power metal of the past. What this seems to mean is that they simply charge out a never ending stream of 'been there, done that' compositions.
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