Wuthering Heights - To Travel For Evermore


Year of Release: 2002
Label: Sensory
Catalog Number: SR3014
Format: CD
Total Time: 55:00:00

Are we holding, in our very hands, the future of power metal? I'm more than tempted to say yes. Whilst I honestly think that some power metal bands release generic albums just for the sake of jumping on the running train, others really try to make a difference. Wuthering Heights' latest effort is a perfect example of a band trying to make a difference. What was already started on Within, their first album, continues to shine on this second release of theirs.

Is To Travel For Evermore different from their first album? Not really. They still stand on the thin edge between power and prog metal, which make them sound different from the average "true metal" bands we are used to hearing nowadays. They offer us a lot of variations, time changes, strong riffs, and tons of melodies throughout the entire epic trip that this album represents. Erik Ravn, main writer and guitarist of the band, still writes some very strong power metal songs like "The Nevershining Stones" and "Lost Realms." I'm still in shock after hearing some of the unique and original riffs he created. He has this way of starting a song with a rhythm and then turning it around and taking a completely different direction. On the first album, I found some songs were lacking structures, this time around everything runs smoothly. The rest of the band delivers a perfect performance for this kind of music, and I would like to give yet another special mention to the well known Swedish vocalist Kristian "Krille" Andrén (ex-Fifth Reason, Street Talk, Tad Morose and Memento Mori singer), who, compared to other power metal singers, provides quite a unique vocal performance, thanks to his recognisable voice and tone.

The main problem, I think, with To Travel For Evermore is the production. Even though it was done by Thomas Hansen, known for his past work with Helloween, [for instance,] the mastering done by Bob Katz lacks power and volume, which kills a lot the epic sound that this kind of music needs. This is the only issue I wish the band would take care of before working on their next album. If their third release is as good as this second one, but has a better production, it will confirm what I stated at the top of this review.

Similar bands: Requiem, Rhapsody

[This review originally appeared January 2003 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]


Tracklisting:
Behind Tearstained Ice (2:15) / The Neverending Stones (6:25) / Dancer In The Light (5:31) / Lost Realms (8:28) / Battle Of The Seasons (8:50) / A Sinner?s Confession (Parts 1- 4) (9:37) / See Tomorrow Shine (5:13) / Through Within To Beyond (6:50) / River Oblivion (3:51)

Musicians:
Erik Ravn - guitars, bass, keyboards
Rune S. Brink - keyboards
Henrik Flyman - guitars
Morten Sorensen - drums
Kristian 'Krille' Andren - vocals

Special guest:

Lorenzo Deho - bass

Discography:
Within (1999)
To Travel For Evermore (2002)
Far From The Madding Crowd (2004)
The Shadow Cabinet (2006)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin DK

Added: January 31st 2005
Reviewer: Mathieu Chamberland
Score:
Artist website: www.wuthering-heights.dk
Hits: 2434
Language: english

  

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