Celesty - Reign Of Elements

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Arise Metal
Catalog Number: AR041
Format: CD
Total Time: 42:35:00

In this review, I am going to try extremely hard to refrain from using the word "Helloween" because I know how tiresome and irritating that can be when so many bands (and labels) compare power metal bands to that band.

Hell-O-Ween, sorry, Celesty, play power metal in a very German speed metal fashion similar to a classic band that starts with the letter H and ends in the letters ELLOWEEN. In fact, they are so similar to this band ? with fast paced, up-tempo songs, nut-torturing high vocals, and some magnificent catchy choruses that I think they learnt their skills from Hell. O. Ween. But it's not only THAT band they can be compared with because they do come from the lands of melodic power metal so you can afford to throw in a good dose of Stratovarius & Sonata Arctica in there, too.

At the very least, Celesty have attempted to sell us a story around Reign Of Elements - which involves ... no, wait. You know the drill already. A tale of good versus evil, gods versus abominations, Hello Ween versus originality. Whilst the story is fairly incidental, all of the songs tell a tale and the booklet includes a centrepiece map of the land of Cryon. A worthy effort and one that should have been explored with more depth (how about a song-by-song story?).

You'll notice that I haven't written much about the music, the production, the artwork, the band members and the only thing I can offer you is that you have heard it all before. And this is not a bad thing but how many times do you want to read similar reviews?

After all is said and done, this is a pretty solid album with every prerequisite you would require with such speedy melodic power metal. I didn't find any filler songs as such, but it is all predictable. And herein lies Celesty's problem - standing out from the crowd is a wonderful goal, but why don't more bands aim for that instead of aiming right for at the crowded centre?

H-E-L-L-O-W-E-E-N.

Similar To: You guessed it - Helloween

[This review originally appeared March 2003 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]
Tracklisting:
I. Intro / II. Charge / III. Revenge / IV. Sword Of Salvation / V. Reign Of Elements / VI. Lost In Deliverance / VII. The Sword And The Shield / VIII. Battle Of Oblivion / IX. Kingdom

Bonus: The Journey (Japan only) / Power Of The Stones (Korea and U.S.A. only)

Musicians:
Antti Railio - vocals
J. P. Alanen - guitar
Tapani Kangas - guitar
Ari Katajam?ki - bass
Jere Luokkam?ki - drums
Juha M?enp?? - keyboards

Discography:
Reign of Elements (2002)
Legacy Of Hate (2004)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin FI

Added: December 8th 2004
Reviewer: Gary Carson
Score:
Artist website: www.celesty.net
Hits: 2218
Language: english