Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Crystal Eyes - Confessions Of The Maker - 2005 - Heavy Fidelity

Track Listing1. The Charioteer 2. Confessions Of The Maker 3. Northern Rage 4. The Fool's Ballet 5. The Terror 6. Panic 7. White Wolves 8. The Burning Vison 9. Revolution In The Shadowland 10. Terminal Voyage 11. Silent Angel

Well, big changes in the Crystal Eyes camp! After releasing three masterful power metal records, this Swedish act have taken a huge step with their newest album "Confessions Of The Maker". Band main-man and lead vocalist Mikael Dahl has decided to step down from vocal duty this time around, making a grand entrance for former Lost Horizon singer Daniel Heiman. Many felt that Lost Horizon was power metal's future, but recently the band have had a major split, leaving Heiman with plenty of free time. At this point in time Heiman still refuses to be considered Crystal Eyes new vocalist, instead just simply "filling-in" here and recording a complete album with the band. Does it work? You better believe it!

With this new record, Crystal Eyes have probably become the most melodic metal band of recent memory. The material on this record just seems to flow right off the disc, at times filled to the brink with the most adventurous of melodic hooks and catchy chops. The band razzle and dazzle with the most effective twin guitar, really at times showboating Iron Maiden right out of the arenas. The tracks found here are just simply epic, all completely wrapped up in a fast, up-tempo swing that still manages to keep a good dose of aggression to the band's sound and delivery. But Crystal Eyes are never a heavy band, and never bother showing a whole lot of anger or hatred here, but at times the band seems to be experimenting with that style. But for the most part most of the songs here are filled with positive influences, really bordering on the same patterns as modern day Helloween or Freedom Call.

Really this is what Crystal Eyes needed the whole time. After releasing their best work to date in 2003 with "Vengeance Descending", I was left a little puzzled on where the band goes from here. Well obviously the group have focused that same sort of creative vision and taken it miles further than I would have ever given them credit for. "Confessions Of The Maker" is just simply brilliant from beginning to end, absolutely mesmerizing in it's sense of melody and direction, harnessing a power that few bands can even grasp yet alone wield. With Heiman on board as the group's frontman, the marriage just seems complete. This is the band that I knew they would become.

--EC 06.07.05