Waterlines

Ah, Excalion. One of my favorite young metal bands that have forged a name for themselves with 3 (hopefully more) albums. "Waterlines" was my first Excalion cd that I bought and I'm proud to say that they really know how to play power metal that is quite amazing. You can call it cheesy, flowery, or whatever, but does it really matter? With a splendid vocalist, riffs, and hooks that catch your attention, and the choruses...OH THE CHORUSES, Excalion is able to create art with their own brand of sound.

Jarmo is an extremely talented vocalist; he can hit notes that are not too obnoxious *coughTimOwenscough* and he can sing in a calm baritone, something I prefer in power metal bands. Not only that, but the keys played out are just delightful, giving his voice a layer of power which is always nice. Speaking of nice things, the riffs are greatly played. Vesa is an extremely talented guitarist, and I can liken him to Falconer's Stefen Weinerhall, but with a lot more heaviness. Listen to the beginning of "Ivory Tower" and you can see how it all just blends together. Listen to the chorus of "Life on Fire" and weep as Jarmo comes out of nowhere with his epic "LIFE IS OUR LUUUUUST!". Listen to how the masterful keyboards provide the song "Between the Lines" with extra OOHHMPH as they gradually become more grandeur. What can I say? A new star in the power metal scene is born, so prepare your anuses Sonata Arctica, you're about to be dethroned.